Fly Dope at the Adirondack Museum

There were many famous concoctions in the 1800’s in the Adirondacks for repelling bugs. Most often it was Blackflies and mosquitoes.  In early Spring and into June there are clouds of Blackflies that try to make life miserable.  Here was an exhibit at the Adirondack Museum (now the Adirondack Experience) in Blue Mountain Lake of the typical repellent. Most explorers. Guides and Sports made their own by mixing Pennyroyal, Pine Tar and Raw Linseed Oil. They called it “Fly Dope” and they would coat their skin with it and get a gloss or varnish that they left on for the whole trip.