AND ANGLING SONGS. 397 



season to the end of November, would be sufficient security for 

 a large and increasing run upon certificates. 



In connexion, however, with a General Fishing Act, the 

 license system, introduced as an auxiliary to protective pur- 

 poses, would require to be peculiarly organized, as regards the 

 distribution of its annual proceeds, in order to benefit Tweed. 

 On the assumption that these proceeds reached 2000, a distri- 

 bution of them, regulated by the valuation of the salmon-fisheries 

 over the whole body of our Scottish rivers, would give but a 

 slender moiety to the Border stream ; whereas, in connexion 

 with a local Act, such as at present obtains, the sale of licenses 

 adapted to Tweed alone would, in all probability, rating the 

 cost of each license at 1, add a sum of 800 to its protective 

 fund. 



As a further, but more indirect assistance to salmon protec- 

 tion, the proceeds which would accrue from the introduction of 

 a trouting license, bearing a claim as well as a qualification to 

 angle for river-trout on Tweed and its tributaries, are worthy of 

 consideration. By all genuine lovers of the angle, a trouting 

 license, based upon this principle, and regulated in the matter of 

 cost so as to accommodate the humblest of the working classes, 

 would be greeted with delight. It would insure fair sport to 

 every one ; it would help, on all sides, to set pretensions at rest ; 

 it would define the legitimate means of angling, and the legiti- 

 mate season to angle in ; it would disarm at once a large section 

 of the poaching fraternity, by uprooting the motives which draw 

 it together ; it would keep in check the lawlessly disposed that 

 remain ; in fact, the number of benefits likely to result from 

 its operation, in the way of fortifying the spawning-grounds, 

 and restoring order, sport, and plenty to our Border rivers, is 

 such as make its imposition thoroughly and immediately desir- 

 able. 



But whilst I foresee, along with the advantages above named, 



