THE TEVIOT — THE ALE. 149 



Shielswood, Headshaw, and Ashkirk, as the reservoirs 

 of other tributaries. It is stated that in some of them 

 trouts are scarce, there being abundance of pike and 

 perch, but there are, we believe, numbers in both Ale- 

 raoor and Hellmoor, as well as in Clearburn, in the 

 neighbourhood, the outlet of which is to the Ettrick ; 

 and they are rarely visited, so may have attractions 

 for those who seek " society where none intrude." 

 They may be attained from either Tushilaw on the 

 Ettrick, or from Hawick ; but if any kind of " up- 

 putting" can be found at Ashkirk — of which we are 

 ignorant — about five miles from Hawick, it would 

 naturally be the most suitable point from which to 

 command them, and the head of Ale-water. The up- 

 per part of the Ale is, we believe, well worth making 

 an effort to get at ; and throughout this little stream 

 contains capital trout and affords good sport, espe- 

 cially after a flood. By a sudden leap at some linns 

 near its source, it saves itself the constant incline that 

 makes so many of the streams in Roxburghshire too 

 rapid and shallow for the production of weighty trouts, 

 and thus it runs into pools that afford an occasional 

 pounder to the angler. New Belses station, which is 

 five miles beyond Newton Junction, at which the line 

 to Hawick branches off, is within easy reach of the 

 Ale, about the middle of its course ; and the Edinburgh 

 angler could thus accomplish a day's fishing in this 

 pretty little water by leaving home in the morning 

 and returning at night. There is an inn at Lilliesleaf 

 where an angler who wished to stay might find accom- 

 modation. At Ancrum, the lower part of the Ale is 

 quite handy ; and a bend which it makes about three 



