82 The American Salmon-fisherman. 



if its appearance does not inspire respect, its action speed- 

 ily will. It has a cousin, a most diminutive creature, 

 hardly larger than the head of a pin, and so colorless as 

 to be almost invisible. It also is a hero, and that of no 

 mean sort. To his honor the mosquito none of us need 

 an introduction. He stands on no ceremony, introducing 

 himself on sight, oblivious to insult and rebuff. 



Were it not for these drawbacks, salmon-fishing would 

 be altogether too good fun for mere mortals. They are 

 to be found in greater or less quantity on every salmon- 

 river during the fishing season almost absent where the 

 banks are settled and cleared, becoming more and more 

 abundant as the wilderness is penetrated. 



The black-fly performs by daylight alone. Not until 

 the sun is well up does he venture out on his daily avoca- 

 tions, and before the cool of the evening he returns home 

 again in a most virtuous fashion. 



His little cousin, on the other hand, has its business- 

 hours in the early morning and the gloom of the twilight, 

 though if the day be warm, damp, and gloomy " muggy" 

 weather in short, he may be on hand all day long. It 

 shuns the bright sun, for its deeds are deeds of darkness. 



Both abominate the wind and vanish before it, but their 

 weather-eye is always open, and no lull, however brief, is 

 allowed to pass unimproved. 



Should an unprepared unfortunate chance upon them 

 when in force, though he have the hide of a rhinoceros, 

 and the enthusiasm of Father Walton himself raised to 

 the twenty-fourth power, neither will avail him anything. 

 He will be subject to attacks so pertinacious and unen- 

 durable, that the necessity of self-preservation will speedi- 

 ly banish all thought of fishing. 



