THE TWEED AT DRYBURGH. 217 
rarely wet line until I pass Benrig and come within 
view of Mertoun Bridge, a short way below which 
runs a section of water which, to the eye of an 
experienced trout-fisher, is irresistible ; not to say that 
in the Maxton range itself there are no holds of 
equal promise, only, were one to commence upon 
such in earnest, he must make up his mind to stick 
‘to them, and leave unaccomplished, for that day at 
least, an intended pilgrimage to St. Mary’s shrine. 
With this in view therefore, and a meditative lounge 
on the Braeheads behind Lessuden, I skip o’er the 
Benrig pool and its superintending stream, and begin 
operations with fly, minnow, or worm, according to 
the condition of the river, near the base of a small 
island which subtends the bridge above mentioned. 
There, where Tweed is rejoined by a run of diverted 
water which has done service at Mertoun Mill, I 
seldom fail, in the months of May, June, and July, 
to bring to bank a dozen or two of fine trout, ranging 
in size from half-a-pound to one and a half pounds. 
On June 11, 1855, I find mention made in my diary 
of my having taken, chiefly at the point indi- 
cated, forty-two trout, which weighed in the gross 
close upon 20 Ibs. and on the 27th of the same 
month and year I encreeled thirty-four more which 
turned the scale at 21 lbs. On the occasion last 
referred to the river was small and clear, and the day 
intensely hot, Well-scoured worms were the lures 
