136 THE BORDER ANGLER. 



triumphantly asserted by the mill- owners and by the 

 Border Advertiser, that there is a very superior roe- 

 cast, which merely proves that when the river is 

 flooded the fresh water from the hills is sufficient to 

 dilute the chemicals from the mills. We have not yet 

 heard that trout are very fond of muriatic acid, and we 

 conceive it to be highly desirable, not only for the 

 sake of anglers, but for the sake of the community at 

 large, that every precaution should be taken to prevent 

 the pollutions of factories from mingling with the pure 

 streams of the Border.* At Hawick, numerous efforts 

 have been made to prevent the defilements, by run- 

 ning the dyes and other chemical preparations used 

 into pits, where they stand until the poisonous stuffs 

 precipitate; but the manufacturers grumble loudly, 

 and try to evade what they ought to be forced to do at 

 whatever cost of trouble or money. We are not aware 

 that as yet any similar efforts have been made at 

 Galashiels. At that town there is a cauld so high as 

 to prevent salmon from ascending the stream to spawn ; 

 and so the angler in this river may fish the year round 

 without fear of killing forbidden fish. 



The vale of Gala is not very picturesque, nor is it 

 very fruitful in song or tradition. Burns has cele- 

 brated its " braw braw lads." It was anciently deno- 

 minated Wedale the Vale of Wo for what reason 

 is not exactly clear, but probably on account of some 

 deadly battle which left the sound of lamentation and 



* Our good friend of the paper above mentioned has borne 

 this allusion very meekly ; and it is but right that we should 

 acknowledge the zeal and ability with which he, editorially and 

 personally, has fought for freedom of angling on the Borders. 



