20 ANGLING SKETCHES 



had, so to speak, the whole of lower Ettrick at his 

 back when he waded ; it was a long way up 

 stream to the bank, and, as we never used landing- 

 nets then, we naturally lost a great many trout in 

 trying to unhook them in mid water. They only 

 averaged as a rule from three to two to the pound, 

 but they were strong and lively. In this pool 

 there was a large tawny, table-shaped stone, over 

 which the current broke. Out of the eddy behind 

 this stone, one of my brothers one day caught 

 three trout weighing over seven pounds, a feat 

 which nowadays sounds quite incredible. As soon 

 as the desirable eddy was empty, another trout, 

 a trifle smaller than the former, seems to have 

 occupied it. The next mile and a half, from 

 Lindean to the junction with Tweed, was remark- 

 able for excellent sport. In the last pool of 

 Ettrick, the water flowed by a steep bank, and, 

 if you cast almost on to the further side, you 

 were perfectly safe to get fish, even when the river 

 was very low. The flies used, three on a cast, 

 were small and dusky, hare's ear and woodcock 

 wing, black palmers, or, as Stoddart sings, 



