Therefore, have a pocket especially made ([Fig. 244]), so that your notebook, pencil and fountain pen ([Fig. 243]), if you insist upon including it—will fit snugly with no chance of dropping out; also make a separate pocket for your toothbrush which should be kept in an oil-skin bag ([Fig. 243]).
A piece of candle ([Fig. 245]) is not only a most convenient thing with which to light a fire on a rainy day, but it has ofttimes proved a life saver to Northern explorers benumbed with the cold.
It is a comparatively easy thing to light a candle under the shelter of one's hat or coat, even in a driving rain. When one's fingers are numb or even frosted, and with the candle flame one can start a life-saving fire; so do not forget your candle stub as a part of your pocket outfit.
In the black fly belt it is wise to add a bottle of fly dope ([Fig. 251]) to one's personal equipment. If you make your own fly dope have a slow fire and allow to simmer over it
- 3 oz. pine tar
- 2 oz. castor oil
- 1 oz. pennyroyal
or heat 3 oz. of pine tar with two oz. of olive oil and then stir in 1 oz. of pennyroyal, 1 oz. of citronella, 1 oz. of creosote and 1 oz. of camphor.
If you propose traveling where there are black flies and mosquitoes, let your mother sew onto a pair of old kid gloves some chintz or calico sleeves that will reach from your wrists to above your elbow ([Fig. 246]), cut the tips of the fingers off the gloves so that you may be able to use your hands handily, and have an elastic in the top of the sleeve to hold them onto your arm. Rigged thus, the black flies and mosquitoes can only bite the ends of your fingers, and, sad to say, they will soon find where the ends of the fingers are located.
A piece of cheese cloth, fitted over the hat to hang down over the face, will protect that part of your anatomy from insects ([Fig. 246]), but if they are not very bad use fly dope ([Fig. 251]), and add a bottle of it to your pocket outfit. One doesn't look pretty when daubed up with fly dope, but we are in the woods for sport and adventure and not to look pretty. Our vanity case has no lip stick, rouge or face powder; it only possesses a toothbrush and a bottle of fly dope.
Certain times of year, when one goes camping in the neighborhood of the trout brooks, one needs to Be Prepared, for one can catch more trout and enjoy fishing better if protected against the attacks of the black flies, mosquitoes, midges and "no-see-ums."