26 



the angler. It was founded about the twelfth cen- 

 tury. It unites the minute beauties of its peculiar 

 architecture with the lofty and solemn grandeur for 

 which it is remarkable, more completely than any 

 other monastic ruins in the British Empire. Those 

 unequalled models of delicate workmanship which 

 Sir Walter Scott has so well described, and which 

 particularly display themselves in the upper part of 

 the building, excite the surprise and admiration of 

 all artists. 



The stream called the Leader enters the Tweed 

 a little below Melrose, and is well supplied with 

 trout, and will richly afford a day's angling when its 

 waters are in fair order. The Rutherford water is 

 the next feeder of the main river, and is esteemed 

 as a first-rate water. The trout in it are larger, 

 upon an average, than those in any other tributary 

 of the Tweed. It is chiefly to the Eutherford 

 stream that the members of the Tiviotdale Fishing 

 Club resort when contesting for the annual prizes. 



The Tweed, from Melrose down to Kelso, is one suc- 

 cession of admirable fishing waters, both for salmon 

 and trout. There is scarcely one locality better than 

 another ; they are all equally good. They are fre- 

 quented every year by the first anglers in the king- 

 dom ; and it is in this neighbourhood that they 

 achieve the greater part of their piscatory triumphs. 



Having arrived at Kelso, which is a first-rate 

 angling station, we shall here take breath, and pro- 

 pose another tour to the great tributary or branch of 

 the Tweed, namely, the Tiviot, and all its chief 



