182 SCRAP. 



of egg-dropping for hours at a time. After every 

 deposit it paddles to the shore, where it rests among 

 the grass or pebbles for a short time, and then re- 

 news its labour. We have heard it asserted that a 

 trout will not take a fly in the act of depositing its 

 eggs, but we have witnessed something different ; 

 and we have no doubt but any trout will just as 

 readily gobble an egg-dropping fly as a poacher will 

 spear or net a spawning trout or salmon. 



BIOGRAPHICAL. 



As John Younger was a Borderer, and as his book 

 refers almost solely to angling in border streams, 

 it may not be deemed improper herein to record a 

 few words on two noted border anglers now deceased. 

 We shall begin with 



JOCK SMAIL. 



Jock Smail, who died about twelve years ago, was 

 a Jedburgh man ; and his principal angling streams 

 were the Teviot, Rule, Jed, and Kale. He was for 

 a long term of years looked upon as, and he no 

 doubt was, the most successful angler in the district. 

 His feats with fly on the still pools of the Jed are 



