58 



whole, very pleasant rod-fishing localities, and calcu- 

 lated to afford the tourist a series of agreeable river- 

 side rambles, 



We shall commence our notice of these fishing 

 waters from the English border, for the especial 

 guidance of tourists from the south part of the 

 island, who may make Carlisle the point of their 

 departure. Within a few miles to the north of the 

 city, there are several streams which fall into the 

 Solway Firth, in which good trout fishing is to be 

 obtained. And first, we have the river Esk, which 

 has a long and winding run through the South- 

 Eastern section of Dumfriesshire, and falls into the 

 Solway about four miles from Carlisle. This stream 

 abounds with both salmon and salmon-trout, as well 

 as with the common burn trout. The coach-road to 

 Hawick leads close by the sides of the river as far 

 as the town of Langholm, and this is a very excel- 

 lent spot to go to at first, in order to angle the river 

 down to the sea. It has a run, however, of full 

 twenty miles above this town, but its waters are 

 small from its rise downwards till they receive an 

 accession from the Black Esk, which enters it at 

 Panlaw Hill. Capital sport may be had in both 

 these higher waters, especially with worm, or, if 

 after a flood, with minnow. The fishers in Lang- 

 holm and its neighbourhood often obtain large bas- 

 kets of fine fish during the summer months. The 

 prevailing colours of the flies, when here used, are 

 the light brown winged ones, and the red and black 

 palmers. But, indeed, the trout often take here so 



