HAWICK — THE RULE. 145 



FisWng in preserved water is not, however, amongst 

 the deadly sins, and we do not suppose that the angler 

 will experience much annoyance, as it is probably 

 chiefly with a view to check the incursions of the 

 Hawick weavers that prohibition has been resorted to. 

 Partly from the assiduous attentions of these sons of 

 industry, and partly from the deleterious character of 

 the chemical stuffs which are allowed to escape from 

 the manufactories — though we believe measures have 

 lately been taken to abate this nuisance — the angling 

 in the Teviot for a few miles below Hawick is not very 

 choice in its character. It is not perhaps until it is 

 joined by the Rule, seven miles from Hawick, that it 

 it becomes really worthy of the reputation which it 

 enjoys amongst anglers. Under the shadow of Minto 

 Castle, the seat of the nobleman who framed the Act 

 that is held in terrorem over them, it is to be expected 

 that the wicked netters from Hawick should cease from 

 troubling. 



The Rule is another swiftly-flowing tributary from 

 the hills, the velocity and rockiness of which are not 

 favourable to the gi'owth in size of its finny habitants. 

 They are, however, very numerous, and have greatly 

 increased smce the ravages of the netters have been re- 

 strained. It is a good worm stream, but requires care- 

 ful fishing- from the number of bushes overhans^ing it. 



In following the Teviot, however, we have already 

 passed the village of Denholm, the birthplace of a man 

 who deserves notice from us, if for nothing else than 

 that he has embalmed the hills and vales, woods and 

 streams of Roxburghshire in beautiful verse. Dr. John 

 Ley den, the author of " Scenes of Infancy," was born 



K 



