SALMON SPEAR 239 



arch of Melrose Bridge, but ye were owre canny 

 for it." 



The earliest method of taking fish, previous to the 

 invention of either hooks or nets, was that used by 

 the Egyptians, by means of a spear resembling a 

 trident. A sculptured stone, excavated at Chester 

 in 1738, and engraved in Lyson's history of the 

 county as a Roman remain, represents a fisherman 

 with his spear and basket. 



I will now describe the salmon spear at present in 

 use. It was formerly called waster ; but that term 

 is nearly out of use, except by the old fishermen, 

 and it is now better known by the name of leister. 

 It resembles a trident in its general appearance ; 

 but has five prongs, instead of three, made of very 

 stout iron : there is only one barb to each prong, as 

 two would tear the fish too much in extricating 

 them. This weapon is fastened to the end of a pole 

 more or less long, according to the depth of the water 

 in which it is intended to be used ; sixteen feet is 

 the general length, and it is not easy to see or strike 

 a fish at a greater depth ; but in sunning I have 

 sometimes tied a light rope to the top of the pole, 

 and gone deeper than this with success, but then it 

 was when the river was unusually clear. The oppo- 

 site woodcut represents the cleik and the leister : 

 the latter is rather narrower, and altogether of a 

 neater make than those in general use. 



In burning, the boat is managed with this leister ; 

 but no one can make use of it in this way who has 

 not learnt to work it with a pole which art is 

 termed canting, and is, I believe, little understood 



