THE LEISTER 



239 



to this day ; and when ye howkit the muckle 

 sawmont that ran ye doon to the Cauld pool, ye 

 ken that her spirit tried to drive him through the 

 farther arch of Melrose Bridge, but ye were owre 

 canny for it." 



The earliest method of taking fish, previous to 

 the invention of either hooks or nets, was that used 

 by the Egyptians, by means of a spear resembling a 



trident. A sculptured stone, excavated at Chester 

 in 1738, and engraved in Lyson's history of the 

 county as a Roman remain, represents a fisherman 

 with his spear and basket. 



I will now describe the salmon spear at present in 

 use. It was formerly called waster ; but that term 

 is nearly out of use, except by the old fishermen, 

 and it is now better known by the name of leister. 



