286 FISHING GOSSIP. 



tackle. I once caught a splendid creelful of river- 

 trout here in the month of June with -worm and par- 

 tail, the stream being low and the day warm and 

 sunny. Above the islet stretch what are evidently 

 the remains of an old cauld-dyke, which we are at 

 liberty to assume did service in its day in connection 

 with the monastic establishment at Dryburgh. The 

 pool formed by it is overhung on the north side with 

 crag and scaur, and possesses all the constituents of 

 an excellent salmon-hold. Some portions of it are 

 deep, and a large fly is required in order to do it 

 justice ; that at least is the opinion of the local 

 fisherman, Fox, whose patterns approach in dimen- 

 sions, and are assimilated in colours blue and yellow 

 prevailing to the salmon-flies used on the Shannon. 

 From this pool, tamely termed nowadays the Boat 

 Hole, I once took in autumn, using one of Fox's 

 loudest persuaders, a fine salmon of 17 Ibs weight, 

 which rose from a depth of twelve feet and upwards 

 to the surface, not by any means a usual circum- 

 stance. Above the Boat or Ferry Hole runs, or rather 

 ambles, bounded on the south side by a lofty scaur, 

 the Bridge Stream, celebrated equally as the choice 

 harbour of salmon and as the abode of fine river- 

 trout, many of which attain the weight of two or 

 three pounds. This stream has acquired its present 

 name from a wire suspension-bridge thrown across it 

 by one of the Earls of Buchan an eccentric character 



