AND ANGLING SONGS. 2O5 



the Loch of the Lowes. From 1828 to 1835, that year also 

 included, I made regular visits to this favourite fishing- ground, 

 sometimes alone, but more frequently accompanied by a College 

 friend or two. The breaking up of the Edinburgh University 

 classes in April was the usual signal for these excursions. By 

 the stage-coach which ran daily betwixt the Scottish capital and 

 Peebles, the first part of the journey was wont to be performed. 

 Arrived at Peebles, the choice lay betwixt angling up the Manor 

 Water, thence crossing by the Bitch Craig into Meggatdale, 

 and fishing down Tweed as far as Innerleithen, in which village 

 it was our custom to remain all night at Riddel's Inn, and make 

 a fresh start through Traquair towards the Lochs. These routes 

 were adopted alternately both in going and returning from 

 Tibby's. Sometimes, for variety's sake, instead of coaching it 

 to Peebles, we made our way on foot through Middleton Moor 

 to the sources of the Leithen Water, or, taking another direc- 

 tion, fished down Gala and up Ettrick and Yarrow. Of our halts 

 at Innerleithen we usually took the advantage to collect the 

 latest angling news of the district, by inviting over to a social 

 crack and a glass of toddy the authorities on that subject belong- 

 ing to this renowned watering-place the secretary of the St. 

 Ronan's Club, for instance, and one or two others of known 

 excellence as fly-fishers. Occasionally, also, we extended our 

 stay there to several days ; but this was done usually on our 

 return from the Lochs in May, when the Tweed trouts were 

 inclined to rise freely, and its summer attractions had begun to 

 spread over the valley. Under such conditions, our sojournings 

 at Innerleithen were truly enjoyable ; and the saunterings we 

 took by the river-side, rod in hand, down as far as Holylee, 

 Elibank Wood, and Ashiestiel, are still held by me, with all their 

 attendant incidents, in lively remembrance. They formed, as 

 the conclusion of our vernal fishing campaign, an agreeable 

 variety to the character of the sport met by us in the heights of 



