ST. BOSWELLS. 211 



who warmly recommended St. Boswells, not only for 

 good and varied trout-fishing, but for the intensely 

 interesting nature of its situation and surroundings. 



From my own subsequent experience, I also can 

 recommend it to anyone in search of a quiet and beautiful 

 spot wherein to exercise to his heart's content all the 

 subtle deceptions of what has been called, with, I always 

 think, a slight tinge of the sarcastic, " the gentle art." 

 Gentle it may be legitimately termed, but there are 

 anglers, and anglers. Amidst the multitude who come 

 under this designation, there are hundreds whose prin- 

 ciples, and practice, are directly opposed to anything 

 entitled to the name of gentleness. To see a regiment 

 of native " artists " in a row upon some river, at the rise 

 of the flood (times and again have I seen such a sight) 

 with worms like moderately-sized eels, and rods and 

 tackle of corresponding proportions, dragging, what 

 they will describe as " great lumps of fish," from the 

 water, over their heads, with a bang against the wall 

 behind them ; or switching the prey by main force, m 

 siiinrnis arboribns, to wriggle and dangle as if suffering 

 the last penalty of the law — this is an exception to 

 the gentleness alluded to, either in respect to craft or 

 craftsmen. 



I have always believed (and wherever it is practicable, 

 I act upon the belief) that the angler has quite sufficient 

 exercise for his arms and legs at the river-side, and in 

 plying his vocation for the time being, without having 

 superadded to this a long and toilsome walk to and from 

 his fishing ground. Indeed, one's basket often sufi"ers in 



