164 THE WONDERFUL TROUT 



and pinky or creamy in colour of the flesh, 

 but pollution of the river 1 by 1879 rendered 

 them utterly unfit for food. This deteriora- 

 tion had been going on and becoming more 

 and more pronounced for many years before 

 that date. In 1880 a distinct improvement 

 took place in this respect, since the river was 

 purified by the action of the riparian pro- 

 prietors in common law, and by the intro- 

 duction of fresh yearlings from Howietoun. 

 This purification and restocking of the water 

 below the former sources of pollution had 

 occupied several years in accomplishing, but 

 alas! just as it was about to be crowned 

 by success, the united action by the said 

 riparian proprietors was broken up by the 

 withdrawal from amongst their number of 

 the principal, and action in consequence was 

 permitted to lapse. It is now little better 

 than a sewer. 



ORIGIN OF SALMONID^E 



As is well known, many little streams, 

 scarcely bigger than ditches, and often having 

 only courses of a few yards in length, and 



1 Caustic soda or soda-leys. 



