THE TWEED 23 



Big fish have been seen in Tweed in more recent times also, 

 for a dead monster was taken from Mertoun water in December 

 1907, which weighed 60 Ib. In Birgham water also a fish of 

 61 Ib. was killed by William Earl of Home who died in 1760, 

 and a wonderful catch of three heavy fish made in 1780 

 by the then Earl of Rothes, must also be mentioned. Docu- 

 mentary evidence exists to show that the three fish weighed 

 180 Ib. 



With regard to the total catch by rod for the whole river, I 

 may give records for the last five years which may be regarded 

 as approximately correct. 



1916 = 2,451 



1917 = 2,389 



1919 = 1,851 



1920 = 2,850 



1918 - 2,960 



The field of Flodden is only about six miles from Coldstream, 

 and the spot where the Scottish king fell only some three miles. 

 It is reported that at a Cistercian nunnery which used to exist 

 at Coldstream, many of the " Flowers of the Forest " were 

 quietly interred. Another matter of interest to which we may 

 refer in passing, is that Coldstream was formerly the Gretna 

 Green of the Tweedside Border. I do not know if it was a 

 blacksmith who here married the runaway couples, but I have 

 no doubt the place was the cause of sorrow to many an English- 

 man. Carham Burn, which enters Tweed opposite the Birgham 

 fishing about half-a-dozen miles above Coldstream Bridge, is 

 the boundary of England and Scotland on the south bank, so 

 that to cross Coldstream Bridge is to cross from England into 

 Scotland. I doubt if Coldstream ever had the full-blown 

 reputation of Gretna, yet the bridge must have been a useful 

 place to hold up the enraged parent who followed. The ford 

 previous to the building of the bridge was, however, a danger- 

 ous source of delay, and Gretna, no doubt, had the preference 

 then. 



About two miles and a half below Coldstream Bridge, the 

 wholly English tributary of Till enters opposite Tweed mill 

 fishings. The Till is a sluggish river of many windings, and 

 holds a lot of pike, eels, roach and perch, base fishes one does 

 not care for in a salmon river. A considerable number of 

 salmon and sea- trout (including a lot of whitling) enter the 

 river, however, and the salmon may be fished for in spring as 



