THE LATE SALMO SALAR, ESQ. 31 



ings was not great, and a few days found 

 us at the broad estuary into which fair Tweed 

 empties herself. 



Here, after tarrying a short time to ac- 

 custom our palates to the change from salt to 

 fresh water, and impelled by the sweet taste of 

 an unusual flow of the latter, we ran at once 

 into the mouth of the river, prepared to ascend 

 with the flowing tide of that night. Little 

 indeed did we calculate upon the destructive 

 power of men, whose living was our death. We 

 had collected, as I said, by hundreds, still in 

 the sea, but close to the mouth of the river. 

 Suddenly a boat, manned by two stout rowers, 

 put off, and, whilst they rowed quickly round 

 us, the third paid off an immense net of appa- 

 rently endless length, and deep enough to 

 sweep the bottom. So rapidly was this effected, 

 that, notwithstanding a strong feeling of immi- 

 nent danger, we found ourselves surrounded, 

 and, the two ends of the net being joined on 

 the shore, entrapped and confined within a 

 circle becoming, as it was hauled in, gradually 

 of smaller dimensions. In vain, swimming 

 wildly about and around, we sought some out- 

 let of escape there was none; slowly, but 



