The black flies have been extremely hungry the past few days, after working outside most of the past weekend, my wife Lisa and I can attest to that as they had quite a meal on us.
When I was growing up they used to be worse. I can remember swarms and literally black clouds full of these biting and relentless devils. Back then the only remedy to fend them off was “old fashioned woodsman’s fly dope.” That stuff was so stinky and nasty it was worse than the black flies.
The loggers that spent the whole day in the woods always swore by diesel fuel. Before entering the woods they would rub diesel fuel all over their forearms, hands, and face and it worked. The late David Morgan called diesel fuel “loggers cologne.” He once said, “it keeps the black flies away and keeps the women from bothering you.”
Legendary stories were born in the old days about black flies. I remember hearing largely exaggerated tales of swarms of black flies lugging off small children and an occasional farm animal.
There was even a song written about black flies. Maine singer Randy Spencer made himself very popular with the song entitled “Black Flies.” The ending verse goes like this, “In those North Maine Woods, don’t you be surprised when you meet those demon’s in disguise”
Until next time, get some good fly dope and hope for the best.
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