PREVENTION OF NETTING. 27 



hood of Hawick. Gala Water was also staked last 

 summer, and an association formed for the protection 

 of the river, called the Gala Angling Association, 

 which every angler who visits that stream should 

 join. It is, however, too soon yet to speak of the 

 effects of this upon Gala, but we have no doubt it 

 will prove highly beneficial. Stakes, however, are 

 liable to this objection, that they interfere with the 

 angler while landing a fish, or when using the worm. 

 The last and most feasible plan is to put large stones 

 in the water, which would have the same effect as 

 the stakes, and would not, like them, interfere with 

 the angler, and would also afford shelter to the fish. 

 The last reason we shall assign for the decrease of 

 trout is the enormous increase of anglers of late 

 years ; there are twenty anglers now for one there 

 was fifty years ago. A gentleman who resided on 

 Tweedside about the beginning of the present 

 century, says that he and one or two others were 

 the only anglers in a district comprising many 

 miles of water. Then, when a flood came, Tweed 

 remained large for ten days, and was swarming 

 with trout so unwary that they could be caught 

 with tackle and flies which a modern angler would 

 reject as totally useless. Look at the state of the 

 case now. How widely different ! Every villager 

 has a rod, and uses it, with more effect too than 

 most amateur anglers ; and it is not at all uncom- 

 mon to be unable of an evening to get a single 

 pool or stream to yourself; and on a favourable 



