TWEED. 2 7 



become an eyesore, extending over half the breadth 

 of Scotland? Shall the turrets of Abbotsford be 

 reflected from a monster gutter, all stains and 

 stench 1 Shall fair Melrose, instead of being 'viewed 

 aright by the pale moonlight,' be nosed in the dark ? 

 .Forbid it, all the powers of Parliament ! If, in- 

 deed, that prohibition could not be uttered without 

 destroying or impeding the brisk and cheerful in- 

 dustry which has sprung up among these sweet 

 hills, there might be nothing for it but to sigh and 

 submit. But it would be almost profane to doubt 

 that from so great an evil there must be means of 

 escape that Hawick may prosper, and yet Tweed 

 be preserved." 



If trout alone were concerned, there is little 

 doubt that they would be left to their fate, and 

 come to an ignominious, unhonoured, but not un- 

 mourned-for end ; but now that valuable property 

 in the salmon-fishings is imperilled, there seems 

 some prospect that the powers of Parliament, 

 which have been so pathetically appealed to, may 

 interfere. 



Another of the most fruitful causes of the 

 depopulation of our streams is netting, and it has 

 greatly increased of late years. The rivers are now 

 so exceedingly small during summer, that they 

 afford every facility for the successful practice of 

 this illegal method of catching trout. The net used 

 for this purpose is what is usually called " the harry- 

 water net." Nets of this kind are made so light 



