116 FISH AND FISHING IN SCOTLAND. 



that as it may, at no time of my life would I knowingly have 

 taken from the pool its sole live tenant. 



ELMSFOKD : THE COTTAGE. THE MIDDLE WATEES OF THE 

 WHITADDER. 



Of all angling stations in Scotland this is the first, the best. 

 See that your tackle be in good order, especially in autumn, 

 when sea trout and whitlings may be looked for in every deep 

 running stream, or pool, or linn. Approach the river-side cau- 

 tiously, and rather early than late. Do not be much after ten 

 in the morning. At the Cottage, six miles from Dunse, and 

 at Longformacus you command the Whitadder and the Die, 

 Lower down are some good streams when flooded. 



The hills which border the valley, in which the Whitadder 

 runs from Priestlaw, now begin to close in so as to narrow the 

 valley almost to the bed of the river. As if in mockery, one of 

 these mountains has been called Mountjoy; but they are not 

 precipitous nor troublesome to the angler. They are naked, 

 barren, stony, heathery hills, desolate and dreary, but pleasant in 

 summer. The first noble stream you meet below the Cottage is 

 the Greenup, at the first bend the river makes in its course east- 

 ward and southward and towards Tweed. If the waters are heavy, 

 and you have reason to think that sea trout and grilse have run 

 up the streams, fish the Greenup with a pair of grilse flies, and a 

 good trout fly above these. Fish it carefully, and failing this, 

 troll the stream with minnow for large trout. Having done 

 your best, put on three good trout flies, and fish the river at once 

 as far as the Blackwiel. 



To fish this splendid stream and pool, out of which you may 

 take a basketfull of large trout and salmon, and sea trout, as 

 the case may be, cross the river above or below the deep pool at 

 the ford. You may find the pool, or drift as we called them in 

 Caffraria, rather deep, so be cautious; I have been obliged 

 sometimes to forego the fishing of the Blackweil on this account, 

 that is, the river was not fordable ; but I recommend you to fish 

 it if possible, and this can only be done from the northern and 

 eastern bank. 



Of the excellence of this stream I need say nothing, it will 



