218 AN ANGLER'S RAMBLES 



feeders fish best late in the season, on the occurrence of a flood ; 

 and it is out of their accessories chiefly that a good hand at burn- 

 fishing will most readily fill his creel. I find mention in my 

 journal of several takes made by me on the Ettrick, comprising 

 from five up to seven dozens. 



Allied to Ettrickdale is a fine trouting loch of about a mile in 

 circumference, called Clearburn Loch, the fish of which approach 

 in weight about half-a-pound. It belongs to his Grace the Duke 

 of Buccleuch. A disease, assimilated in many respects to that 

 by which grouse and black-game are periodically attacked, 

 namely, the tape-worm, made its appearance a few years ago 

 among the trout of this lake. The features of the disease, as 

 described by my informant, a son of Mr. Ogilvie of Chesters, the 

 district chamberlain, corresponded to what I have observed more 

 than once in the fresh-water trout of other lakes ; but the cases 

 falling under my observation partook of an isolated character, 

 and did not, as in the instance named, affect a whole locality. 

 Among perch diseases are common ; and I am here induced to 

 mention a singular circumstance, in relation to this fish, which 

 came under my notice, not many years ago, at Dunse Castle 

 Loch. This piece of water, which occupies an area of forty or 

 fifty acres, is strictly preserved. It contains tench, abounds 

 with perch of a small uniform size, and is plentifully stocked 

 with water-fowl of all descriptions from the swan downwards. 

 My much lamented friend, the late Dr. Johnston of Berwick, 

 the well-known and accomplished naturalist, traced from this 

 lake the introduction into some of our Border streams of that 

 prolific and troublesome weed, Anacharis alsinastrum, the vege- 

 tating powers of which are something extraordinary. On one of 

 four or five occasions on which I fished here, with permission of 

 the proprietor, the pond being nearly choked up, I took about 

 three dozens of perch, exactly one-half of which wanted an eye. 

 How to account for such a deficiency in so large a proportion, 



