CHAPTEK I. 



THE TWEED. 



ANGLING SEASON : February 1st to November 30th. 



After 14th September fly is the only lure allowed, and this lure must alone be used at 

 the beginning of the season till 15th February. 



NETTING SEASON: February 14th to September 13th. 



This District is under the management of the Tweed Commissioners, whose Executive 

 body meet at Kelso. D. W. B. Tait, Esq., W.S., Kelso, acts as Clerk. 



KOMANCE of Border feud, poetry, and legend seem to fill the air when 

 Tweed is thought of, and many have written, and sung, and painted 

 its many charms. To deal with its salmon fisheries may be a less 

 extensive work than to write of the complex history of the district, 

 yet it is verily sufficiently difficult. Sir Herbert Maxwell has filled 

 a large and beautiful book with the history and romance of Tweed,, 

 and I am glad of it, for were it necessary for me to deal chiefly with 

 this aspect, I should be tempted at once to lay down my pen. 



Yet the Tweed is a wonderful river when we view it solely from 

 its salmon fishery standpoint. No other river in Scotland is asked 

 to maintain a salmon fishery, and at the same time to support so 

 many industrial centres largely acting adversely to the interests of 

 the salmon. The Clyde gave up the attempt long ago. But for the 

 magnificent natural spawning grounds in the upper river and its- 

 tributaries and the absence of serious obstructions, the Tweed long 

 ere this would have followed suit, or would have deteriorated to a 

 second class fishery. 



As a Border river, for long the scene of hot feuds, where, when 

 folk were not busy cracking one another's crowns, Scotsmen and 

 Englishmen alike were not disposed to conserve fisheries for the 

 benefit of their opposite enemies, the salmon ran but a poor chance 

 of attention. The very intensity of the feuds, however, may have 

 acted as a partial shield to the salmon. The leister and the cairn 

 net were no doubt busy at times, but men had more absorbing 



