196 THE BORDER ANGLER. 



BO have come to the conclusion that these pools are 

 tenantless, and probably have always been so. There 

 is not, however, any such tempting place for lasses to 

 bathe in as is described in Allan Ramsay's beautiful 

 pastoral. This must be sought for at New Hall, five 

 or six miles farther on the road to Dumfries. 



At the very mouth of the Esk, notwithstanding the 

 Duke of Buccleuch's statement, sea-trout are still to 

 be taken. On a Saturday afternoon in April 1857, 

 when the river was actually opaque from the stuffs 

 let off from the mills at Lasswade and other places 

 (which are cleared weekly), we caught a pretty fish, 

 upwards of a pound in weight, while experimenting 

 with a very small grilse-fly, and raised another. We 

 believe one or two are to be had almost every day of 

 the year ; and certainly, when dressed and put upon 

 the table, they do not emit such a smell as to require 

 them to be sent out of the room. 



The banks of the Esks, however, will continue to 

 be frequented, even although every specimen of the 

 salmonidse in them should be utterly destroyed. From 

 Habbie's Howe to Musselburgh, almost every step is 

 interesting. 



" Sweet are the paths, oh ! passing sweet, 



By Esk's fair stream that run 

 O'er airy steep, through woodland deep, 



Impervious to the sun. 

 From that fair dome where suit is paid 



By blast of bugle free, 

 To Auchindinny's hazel shade, 

 And haunted Woodhouselee. 

 Who knows not Melville's beechy grove, 



And Roslin's rocky glen, 

 Dalkeith, which all the virtues love, 

 And classic Hawthornden ? " 



