150 THE BORDER ANGLER. 



its subsequent course of thirty miles is through a rich 

 and beautiful country. We are not exactly informed 

 as to what parts of the river are attempted to be pre- 

 served, but we believe restrictions have been placed 

 upon the angling of late years by several landowners. 

 Fishing in preserved water is not, however, amongst 

 the deadly sins, and we do not suppose that the angler 

 will experience much annoyance, as it is probably 

 chiefly with a view to check the incursions of the 

 Hawick weavers that prohibition has been resorted to. 

 Partly from the assiduous attentions of these sons of 

 industry, and partly from the deleterious character of 

 the chemical stuffs which are allowed to escape from 

 the manufactories though we believe measures have 

 lately been taken to abate this nuisance the angling 

 in the Teviot for a few miles below Hawick is not very 

 choice in its character. It is not perhaps until it is 

 joined by the Rule, seven miles from Hawick, that it 

 it becomes really worthy of the reputation which it 

 enjoys amongst anglers. Under the shadow of Minto 

 Castle, the seat of the nobleman who framed the Act 

 that is held in terrorem over them, it is to be expected 

 that the wicked netters from Hawick will cease from 

 troubling. 



The Rule is another swiftly-flowing tributary from 

 the hills, the velocity and rockiness of which are not 

 favourable to the growth in size of its finny habitants. 

 They are, however, very numerous, and have greatly 

 increased since the ravages of the netters have been 

 restrained. It is a good worm stream, but requires 

 careful fishing, from the number of bushes overhang- 

 ing it. 



