3o8 THE SALMON RIVERS OF SCOTLAND 



Scotland. Netting begins on the 15th of February and continues 

 till the 15th of September, and if that date were altered to the ist 

 of the month, the Tweed would soon be herself again. 



The best angling months are February and the two following 

 ones, and then from the 15th of September to the end of the season. 

 An eighteen-foot rod is quite necessary, and knee boots for stepping 

 in and out of the boats are required. As a gaff can only be used 

 during the netting season, the landing net is nearly universally 

 employed ; likewise minnows, worms, and prawns can only be 

 used during the netting period, a restriction which many anglers 

 complain of as being unnecessary and vexatious. 



Flies range in size from 6/0 to 9, these latter, which are of trout 

 size being tied on double hooks. 



The favourites are Jock Scot, Wilkinson, Greenwell, Silver Grey, 

 Durham Ranger, Blue and Silver Doctor, Dandy, Butcher,Sir Richard, 

 Childers, White and Dun Wing, Toppy, and Stevenson, though there 

 are any quantity of other patterns that have been used successfully. 

 A lengthy, big river like the Tweed is sure to bring some extra 

 good professional fishermen to the front, and it cannot be dismissed 

 without mentioning such names as Moody at Bemersyde, John Purdie 

 and John Richardson at the Pavilion, with George Wright, Hendrie, 

 and Mark Johnson at Makerston, Sandie Purdie at Merton, Rob 

 Kerss at Hendersyde, John Aitken at Rutherford, with Willie Scott 

 and Robson at Birgham. These are (or were) all men admitted to 

 be at the top of the tree in the handling of a rod or the management 

 of a Tweed boat— fine hardy fellows and right pleasant companions, 

 who were always ready to do their utmost to show sport, and as 

 keen at it as if they themselves had the rod. 



The falling off in the number of salmon is to be accounted 

 for by hard netting by fixed engines round the coasts of the mouth, 

 by hard poaching during the close time, by horrible pollutions, 

 rendering disease more deadly than on other rivers, and by the 

 improved methods of draining. 



This latter evil is one, however, that admits of no remedy , 

 the other three may be and should be easily lessened, and until 

 that is done there can be no hope of once more seemg this splendid 

 river what it was in the beginning of the last century. ^ . ^ -, 



First the close time should be altered, and end on the ist instead 

 of on the isth of September. Then, if one gunboat cannot protect 

 the fish from the poachers, let the Government employ two or three, 

 or even four, until the illegality has been suppressed. 



As to the pollutions, the pollutors lie at the mercy of the 

 proprietors, for every case of the sort is on all fours with the action 

 brought by Lady Seafield and other Spey proprietors against the 

 Speysicle distillers ; and with the decision given m this action staring 

 them m the face, there are but few manufacturers who would care to 

 confront the certain risk of defeat and the payment of heavy costs. 

 From 1879 to 1892 there were 95,296 salmon, grilse, and sea 



1 See chapter on " The Spey," p. IS^- 



