The North Country Angler. 7 1 



only three or four, and then let it rest till re- 

 plenished at Michaelmas^ or in the spring. 



There is a very remarkable pool in Cocquet, a 

 little below Roth bury, called the Thrum, where 

 the river has made its way through, or rather 

 under a great rock, near the high end of which 

 I have frequently stepped over. The pool is 

 very deep and narrow, fifty or sixty yards long. 

 There is no good angling in it, though one may 

 get to it on both sides, because a great trout will 

 run under the rock on either side, and break a 

 strong line; so that even a landing net will not 

 be of any service. I used the abovementioned 

 method here, and the first time I put a line in it, 

 I catched two of the largest burn trouts that were 

 ever seen in these parts ; they were twenty-six 

 inches long$ and very thick: the length and 

 breadth of one of them was cut out on Mrs. 

 Parkes's table, in Rothbury^and shewn to anglers, 

 &c. as a great rarity. I had above twenty people 

 with me when I drew this line 5 and I la.d in this 

 place till I got nothing at forty hooks but a few 

 eels, and so gave it over for that year. Some call 

 this beggaring a pool, and I cannot say but it 

 is so for the present, though in half a year it will 

 be replenished. 



