34 THE SALMON RIVERS OF SCOTLAND 



through the great increase in sporting value, but if the nets had not 

 been removed there would have been no spring angling in the Dee. 



The Tweed still retains, however, what one may describe as a 

 remnant of its spring run. A comparatively small percentage of the 

 annual netted produce of the river is distributed over the early 

 months of the year. 1 A limited amount of spring angling is to be 

 obtained in the lower reaches of the river. I have also notes of 5 

 clean fish having been taken at Wark, 12 miles from the mouth, and 

 one clean fish taken at Mertoun, 32 miles from the mouth, in 

 December, 1901, during ova fishing; and it is not uncommonly the 

 case that a few are taken by rod before the close of the autumn 

 angling. In this way, in 1908, I noticed in The Field, that on 

 30th November, Lady Mna Balfour had 3 clean fish at the Willow 

 Bush, 15 lb., 15 lb., and 13 Ib. This occurrence of a few clean run 

 fish at various points in the river, is due to the divided migration 

 of the salmon; and if the stock of fish in Tweed were further 

 reduced, the spring run would still further fall off. 



Conversely, if the stock of fish in Tweed were allowed to increase, 

 if a due proportion of each run of fish which enter the river were 

 allowed to ascend to the upper waters and there to reproduce 

 their species, the spring run of fish would improve, and with 

 this improvement would also come a more natural and more 

 defined spawning season. The process could only be brought about 

 by degrees, else dislocation of existing conditions of fishing would 

 result. 



A proposal has been brought forward once or twice to arrange for 

 the removal of the nets from Coldstream to the Union Bridge, which, 

 as already explained, marks the top of tide reach. There are, I 

 believe, twenty-one nets worked in this stretch of river, giving em- 

 ployment to between eighty and ninety men. The fishings represent 

 a considerable annual value, and we may assume that at this date no 

 proposal of this kind would be brought forward without allowing for 

 adequate compensation. In my view the project is by no means 

 impracticable. Similar action has been taken elsewhere, and all 

 experience shows that the best interests of the fisheries as a whole 

 are served thereby. It is not only merely a proposal which will 

 benefit the rod fishers of the upper waters, who will be the first to 

 reap the benefit of an additional and an earlier supply of fish. The 

 increase in the stock of fish will presently tell also upon the nets 

 which remain. So much is this recognised on the Dee that the 



1 Vide Appendix X., Report of Tweed and Solway Commission, Part I., 1896. 



