152 SALMON FISHING IN THE TWEED 



cession, the water being in the foul state I have 

 mentioned. It must be noted also, that when the 

 river is swoln and discoloured, salmon travel in 

 the daytime, particularly when there is a fresh 

 wind to ruffle the surface of the water ; and as 

 they are intent on their journey, they are not apt 

 to pay much attention to such food as we worthies 

 offer them. Now as this uncertainty of hooking 

 a fish that offers happens to me or to you, so the 

 same thing will occur to every other fisherman 

 that is out on the same day, these animals being 

 all of the same mind ; but I have heard good 

 fishermen in the North say, that they always had 

 the best sport before the river cleared. I suppose 

 it was in shallow streams ; because it is evident 

 that salmon, who always lie at the bottom of the 

 river, or on the edge of a rock near it, could not 

 see the fly at any great depth when the waters were 

 turbid. It must be observed, however, that in 

 more shallow places, where they can distinguish it, 

 there is a great difference between a newly-run fish 

 and one that has been some time in the river ; the 

 new one being wild and gamesome, and ignorant 

 of the ways of the world, and the other the very 

 emblem of prudence, and an admirer of the old 

 adage, "Always look before you leap." It is 

 difficult to express by words the exact state of the 

 water I wish to allude to : if it is only moss-stained 

 good sport may be had with clean fish, but there 

 must be a certain degree of transparency. 



The upper parts of the Tweed come into order 

 for being fished much sooner than those below, and 

 this in proportion to the depth and volume of water. 



