BOTHWELL-BUKN — DYE-WATEK. 1G3 



Bothwell-burn joins the Whitaclder at St. Agness 

 about a mile above Cranshaws Kirk. We have only 

 tested the lower pools, but believe that it is throughout 

 full of trouts ; and it is a capital resort in a flood. 



Dye-water debouches half-a-mile above EUemford 

 Inn. It has run nearly as far as the Whitadder at 

 that point — that is, about twelve miles ; but its volume 

 of water is scarcely so great, its tributaries being few 

 and small. In its head-waters trout are excessively 

 numerous. Above Byrecleuch — which is a curious old 

 house, used as a shooting-box by the Duke of Roxburgh, 

 with a farm-steading and a few cottages beside it — the 

 number of dozens that might be taken in a day are 

 scarcely limited save by the possibilities of casting and 

 pulling out. In a flood with fly in April or May, 

 baskets have been filled with surprising celerity, and 

 scarcely anywhere will the worm-fisher find larger 

 profits or quicker returns for his expenditure of trouble 

 and care. Its lower parts are scarcely inferior. There 

 are large trout in the deep and rugged pools worn out 

 in the rock ; and, just at the turn of a flood, the min- 

 now has often done great execution. In 1856 the prize 

 basket at the annual competition of an angling club 

 that exists in the village of Longformacus weighed 

 24 lbs., captured by minnow in the part of the water 

 that is most fished, the last three miles of its course ; 

 while other takes were, we believe, upwards of or 

 closely approaching 20 lbs. The principal tributary of 

 the Dye is the Watch-water, a stream full of trout, but 

 these of the very smallest size. We have captured 

 dozens in it without getting one a quarter of a pound 

 in weight. The Watch joins it a little above Long- 



