CHAPTER IX 



" Dinna let the Sherra' ken 

 Donald Caird is come again."" SCOTT. 



IF I were to write an account of half the poaching 

 tricks that are common to all Salmon rivers, I 

 should produce a book, the dimensions of which 

 would terrify the public, even in this pen-compiling 

 age. 



In times when water bailiffs in Tweed had very 

 small salaries, they themselves were by no means 

 scrupulous about the observance of close time, but 

 partook of the good things of the river in all 

 seasons, lawful or unlawful. There is a man now, 

 I believe, living at Selkirk, who in times of yore 

 used certain little freedoms with the Tweed Act, 

 which did not become the virtue of his office. As 

 a water bailiff he was sworn to tell of all he saw ; 

 and indeed, as he said, it could not be expected 

 that he should tell of what he did not see. 



When his dinner was served up during close 

 time, his wife usually brought to the table in the 

 first place a platter of potatoes and a napkin ; 

 she then bound the latter over his eyes that noth- 

 ing might offend his sight. This being done, the 

 illegal salmon was brought in smoking hot, and he 



