EDITOR'S INTRODUCTION xix 



differing marking and shape. It is to be noted that 

 in New Zealand some of the acclimatised trout have 

 acquired a definitely migratory habit, and they 

 reach a size similar to that reached by the bull trout, 

 which is often to be seen, though seldom caught, of 

 a size of 20 Ib. or even more. But it is somewhat 

 local in its appearance, being most plentiful in the 

 Tweed and other rivers of the north-east coast. 

 So far I do not think it has been satisfactorily 

 explained why the sea trout in one district should 

 often reach 20 Ib., and in another seldom exceed 

 5 Ib. But a rather similar variation exists in the 

 salmon of different districts, so the matter is evidently 

 based on some natural law. 



Scrope's book is closely identified with the river 

 Tweed, and a few words on the Tweed of to-day 

 seem to be called for. There have been changes, of 

 course, especially in the modes of catching fish, but 

 not so very many. Leistering and snatching and the 

 killing of unseasonable fish are now, happily, illegal. 

 The legitimate angling has not altered so much as on 

 some other rivers because the fly still remains the 

 principal lure employed. This is due to the fact that 

 when the nets are off only fly-fishing is allowed. The 

 flies themselves have changed for the brighter, as the 

 plate (page 130) shows. Silver and gold bodies, golden 

 pheasant toppings, jungle-cock cheeks, and other 

 adornments make the modern flies vastly more 

 attractive to the angler's eye. As to the fish well, 

 in some circumstances, I suspect that Meg in her 

 Braws would please them just as well as a silver 

 Wilkinson. But in others the brighter fly has greater 



