164 THE BORDER ANGLER. 



formticus ; while a little below it a burn of a very dif- 

 ferent cliaracter enters. Blacksmill-burn, whicli flows 

 round the base of Dirringlon Law, and then through 

 some meadow-ground, yields trout of considerable size 

 and excellent quality. Although not worth fishing for 

 more than a couple of miles, in that space trout of 

 nearly a pound in weight may be taken — we have even 

 heard of one of three pounds being caught in a part of 

 the burn little more than a foot in width. And it occurs 

 to us here to mention a mode of burn-fishing, where 

 there are trout of a good size, that may be practised 

 with great success in a flood, just when the yellow 

 colour is going off the water. Take a large-sized worm- 

 hook with a pretty long shank, tied to strong gut, and 

 round the length of the shank beat a piece of lead such 

 as can be drawn into the body of a minnow. Have a 

 loop at the end of the strand of gut, and with a darning- 

 needle pass the gut up through the minnow and out at 

 the tail, leaving the hook projecting at one side of the 

 mouth. The lead acts as a sinker, and the angler can 

 work his bait in below banks and close to the bottom 

 in a way that is impossible with the spinning minnow. 

 Large trout take it readily ; and it is advisable to give 

 them plenty of time before striking, as they often seize 

 the body first, and so don't get the hook into their 

 mouth until they begin to swallow the bait. A large 

 minnow may be used. English anglers practise fishing 

 somewhat similar to this in clear water, with smaller 

 bait and delicate tackle. 



The pretty village of Longformacus stands on the 

 banks of the Dye, about three miles from its junction 

 with the Whitadder, and the neat inn at this place 



