CONSCIENTIOUS WATER BAILIFF. 209 



In times when water bailiffs in Tweed had very 

 small salaries, they themselves were by no means 

 scrupulous about the observance of close time, but 

 partook of the good things of the river in all seasons, 

 lawful or unlawful. There is a man now, I believe, 

 living at Selkirk, who in times of yore used certain 

 little freedoms with the Tweed Act, which did not 

 become the virtue of his office. As a water bailiff he 

 was sworn to tell of all he saw ; and indeed, as he 

 said, it could not be expected that he should tell of 

 what he did not see. 



When his dinner was served up during close time, 

 his wife usually brought to the table in the first place 

 a platter of potatoes and a napkin ; she then bound 

 the latter over his eyes that nothing might offend his 

 sight. This being done, the illegal salmon was brought 

 in smoking hot, and he fell to, blindfolded as he was, 

 like a conscientious water bailiff, — if you know what 

 that is ; nor was the napkin taken from his eyes till 

 the fins and bones were removed from the room, and 

 every visible evidence of a salmon having been there 

 had completely vanished : thus he saw no illegal act 

 committed, and went to give in his annual report at 

 Cornhill with his idea of a clear conscience. This was 

 going too near the wind, or rather the water ; but 

 what would you have ? — the man was literal, and a 

 great eater of Salmon from his youth. 



People who are not water bailiffs have not always 

 so delicate a conscience. Let us examine the style 

 and bearing of such marauders as have fallen under 

 our notice. 



In the first place, there is your man with a pout net, 



