228 ANGLERS' EVENINGS. 



the finny race would soon cease to exist in them. The 

 disease which, to such an alarming extent, has affected 

 both the salmon and the river-trout this year (1879), is, 

 I believe, more than probably due to this cause ; and if 

 means be not taken to enforce existing statutes on the 

 subject, or new laws made which shall effectually check 

 pollution, we may live to see our finest streams untenanted 

 by either trout or salmon. 



Before visiting the Tweed at St. Boswells, I had fished 

 the Don in Aberdeenshire for several seasons in suc- 

 cession, almost exclusively with worm, using what is 

 commonly known as " Stewart tackle." Whether it was 

 owing to some peculiarity in the river, or the kind of 

 seasons, I cannot say; but I found that the same tactics 

 did not suit the Tweed nearly so well, and as I was 

 generally more successful with the fly, I practised that 

 style of fishing more frequently on the latter river. 



Stewart, in his Practical Angle}', admits either three 

 or four hooks on his worm-tackle. I think anglers will 

 generally find it more advantageous to have three only : 

 more than this number necessitates the use of a larger 

 size of worm, which is decidedly to be eschewed. Were 

 it in any degree a rule that a large trout must have a 

 large bait, this would alter the case. Unfortunately, 

 however, the rule is more frequently — the larger the bait 

 the smaller the fish. I would not like to say that the 

 converse of this is universally true, but I often find that the 

 largest trout are taken with the smallest, pinkest, and 

 most lively worms, possibly, because to them such seem 

 the daintiest morsels; whereas, if one chances upon a 



