286 FISHING GOSSIP. 
tackle. I once caught a splendid creelful of river- 
trout here in the month of June with worm and par- 
tail, the stream being low and the day warm and 
sunny. Above the islet stretch what are evidently 
the remains of an old cauld-dyke, which we are at 
liberty to assume did service in its day in connection 
with the monastic establishment at Dryburgh. The 
pool formed by it is overhung on the north side with 
crag and scaur, and possesses all the constituents of 
an excellent salmon-hold. Some portions of it are 
deep, and a large fly is required in order to do it 
justice ; that at least is the opinion of the local 
fisherman, Fox, whose patterns approach in dimen- 
sions, and are assimilated in colours—blue and yellow 
prevailing—to the salmon-flies used on the Shannon. 
From this pool, tamely termed nowadays the Boat 
Hole, I once took in autumn, using one of Fox’s 
loudest persuaders, a fine salmon of 17 lbs weight, 
which rose from a depth of twelve feet and upwards 
to the surface, not by any means a usual circum- 
stance. Above the Boat or Ferry: Hole runs, or rather 
ambles, bounded on the south side by a lofty scaur, 
the Bridge Stream, celebrated equally as the choice 
harbour of salmon and as the abode of fine river- 
trout, many of which attain the weight of two or 
three pounds. This stream has acquired its present 
name from a wire suspension-bridge thrown across it 
by one of the Earls of Buchan—an eccentric character 
