394 AN ANGLER'S RAMBLES 



difficulty has been experienced in the clearing even of the work- 

 ing expenses. If such has really been the case, and there is 

 taken also into account the damage which must have resulted 

 from operating with the long-net over a large portion of the river 

 at so early a season, only the want of common sense could induce 

 to the continuance of an employment which is at once injurious 

 and unrernunerative. 



But while the opening of Tweed in February is questionable 

 as regards the interests of the lower proprietors, there can be no 

 doubt of its being a mistake, as far as angling is concerned. Of 

 this mistake, every year promises to lead nearer and nearer to 

 the apprehension. The conviction gains with us that February, 

 and even March, form a valuable portion of the spawning season 

 for salmon on Tweed. In fact, there can be no question about 

 it. Not only do we find the gravelly stretches of the river still 

 occupied by the breeders, but our wars with the kelts are diver- 

 sified, every now and then, by the capture of an unspawned fish. 

 As to the chances of falling in with a clean salmon during the 

 months above named, I do not exaggerate when I assert that for 

 every one fish of that description taken by the rod-fisher, two 

 hundred of the sort interpreted to come under the designation 

 ' foul and unseasonable,' are hooked, played, and brought to land. 

 Restricting my calculation to that stretch of Tweed, embracing 

 two-thirds of its course, which heads the Makerston casts, and 

 includes the Ettrick and Lyne waters, I would be nearer the 

 mark in affirming that not one fish in a thousand, so treated in 

 February and March, is of the kind in question, viz., a clean, 

 marketable salmon. This being the case, and holding in view 

 the injury which, to some extent, there can be no question, is 

 inflicted on the kelts and baggits by means of the large hooks 

 made use of by the angler early in spring, I think it highly 

 desirable that the opening of Tweed and its tributaries for salmon- 

 fishing with the rod, should be deferred at least six weeks ; in 



