238 ANGLERS' EVENINGS. 



sense ; but a gainer practically, in an experience that has 

 stood me in good stead on many a subsequent occasion. 

 On examining my casting-line by daylight, I found the 

 lower part of it twisted, as if it had been done by a 

 machine. 



Excellent trouting may be had by going from St. 

 Boswells up the Tweed, on the Dryburgh Water. This 

 ground begins at a place called Monk's Ford, about three- 

 quarters of a mile above the Suspension Bridge, and 

 extends to the " Long stream " mentioned before ; in all, 

 a distance of at least two and a half miles. It includes 

 some splendid streams and pools. The first — Monk's 

 Ford — is a capital piece of water for trout : then follow 

 in order, coming down the river, "casts" locally known as 

 the Battery stream ; Bay-hill (spanned by the Suspension 

 Bridge) ; the Boat-hole ; the Island ; Haws Craig ; the 

 Burn-foot ; Brockie's-hole ; the Gullet-stream ; Berkie 

 Haugh ; Haugh-side, and the Long-stream. It will be 

 seen that this stretch of fishing, as well as what has been 

 described before, lies within easy and comfortable access 

 of the village, and it will take the angler who is new 

 to the district a considerable time to get thoroughly 

 acquainted with the ground. Should he wish, however, 

 any day to change the scene of his depredations, he can 

 get readily to a good part of the Teviot, by taking the 

 train from Maxton Station to Roxburgh, a distance of a 

 few miles ; or he can walk four miles south of St. Boswells 

 to the Aill Water, which figures in Scott's Lay of the Last 

 Minstrel, as the "foaming tide" stemmed so gallantly by 

 the stout Sir William of Deloraine, when on his midnight 



