BOTHWELL-BURX DYE-WATER. 169 



Both well -burn joins the Whitadder at St. Agnes's, 

 about a mile above Cranshaws kirk. We have tested 

 only the lower pools, but believe that it is throughout 

 full of trouts ; and it is a capital resort in a flood. 



Dye-water debouches half-a-mile above Ellemford 

 Inn. It has run nearly as far as the Whitadder at 

 that point that is, about twelve miles ; but its volume 

 of water is scarcely so great, its tributaries being few 

 and small. In its head waters trout are excessively 

 numerous. Above Byrecleuch which is a curious old 

 house, used as a shooting-box by the Duke of Box- 

 burgh, with a farm-steading and a few cottages beside 

 it the number of dozens that might be taken in a 

 day are scarcely limited save by the possibilities of 

 casting and pulling out. In a flood with fly in April 

 or May, baskets have been filled with surprising cele- 

 rity, and scarcely anywhere will the worm-fisher find 

 larger profits or quicker returns for his expenditure of 

 trouble and care. Its lower parts are scarcely inferior. 

 There are large trout in the deep and rugged pools 

 worn out in the rock ; and just at the turn of a flood, 

 the minnow has often done great execution. In 1856 

 the prize basket at the annual competition of an 

 angling club that exists in the village of Longformacus 

 weighed 24ibs., captured by minnow in the part of the 

 water that is most fished, the last three miles of its 

 course ; while other takes were, we believe, upwards 

 of or closely approaching 20 ft>s. The principal tribu- 

 tary of the Dye is the Watch-water, a stream full of 

 trout, but these of the very smallest size. We have 

 captured dozens in it without getting one a quarter of 

 a pound in weight. The Watch joins it a little above 



