8 



close of last century, by some enterprising fishers in An- 

 nandale, opened up new views, and caused a total revolu- 

 tion in the Salmon fishery of Scotland. 



On the extensive flats or sand-banks in the Sol way 

 Frith, excavations are made by the eddies of the cur- 

 rent, which, at ebb-tide, form on the banks large 

 7?oo/s,- or lakes} as they are termed by the fishers. At 

 these lakes, the fishers erected what was at first called 

 a tide or floating-net, in consequence of the net being 

 so constructed^ that it was the operation of the tide 

 which secured the fish. It consisted of strong and coarse 

 net-work, the meshes of which were ten or twelve in- 

 ches in circuit, placed along the margin of the lake 

 and surrounding it on all sides* This net-work was fast- 

 ened to stakes driven into the banks, at considerable dis- 

 tances from each other ; and at various places in the 

 lower or flood side, it was so constructed as to open 

 and shut with the current. These places, were kept 

 open by the flood-tide, so that the fish, during the 

 flood, were allowed to go freely into the net ; but when 

 the current of the tide changed and took the opposite 

 direction, the loose net-work, pressed by the receding 

 water, was closed, thus forming a complete inclosure, 

 in which the fish were detained. And as the tide ebbed, 

 they sunk down into the lake, where they were caught 

 by the fishers, at low water. 



Such was the origin of what is now called the STAKE- 

 NET. And it is a curious circumstance, worthy of parti- 

 cular notice, that, induced by the success of the fishery 

 in these lakes, two brothers, William and James Irvine, 

 experienced fishers on the Solway, and nearly related to 

 Messrs. Little, who afterwards introduced the invention 

 into the Tav,- visited the Tav, for the purpose of ascer- 



