118 SALMON FISHING IN CANADA. 



on some rocks at the southern extremity of this gloomy 

 inlet ; and then the Commissioner and myself, accompanied 

 by Mr. W. Price, proceeded higher up the great river, 

 killing many trout of various sizes and weights, until the 

 shades of evening added to the gloom of the overhanging 

 cliffs warned us that it was time to turn homewards in 

 search of shelter and of rest. As we moved along round 

 each headland we cast our eyes into the darkling inden- 

 tations of the rocks, in search of our friend whom we had 

 left behind us. At length we came rather suddenly 

 within a few yards of a very dark-visaged gentleman who 

 at the moment was playing a fish ; whereupon the Com- 

 missioner addressed him, congratulating him on his appa- 

 rently good sport, and inquiring whether he had seen 

 another fisherman during the evening. He was answered 

 by a guffaw from our friend, and not only by a guffaw, but 

 by a pretty smart jobation for our having left him so long 

 to be eaten alive by flies. The voice was the voice of our 

 friend, but the face was the face of a negro in convulsions. 

 To account for which it may be well to state that the 

 assault of the black fly is generally sudden and unexpected . 

 that the first indication you have of his presence, is the 

 running of a stream of blood over some part of your face, 

 which soon hardens there, and that these assaults being 

 renewed ad infinitum, under favourable circumstances, 

 soon renders it difficult even for his nearest and dearest 

 female relative to recognise him. The effect during the 



