TWEED SALMON FISHING. 267 



historical events, and the fisherman is a dull man who walks by 

 Dryburgh, and Melrose and Smailholme Tower, unmoved, and past 

 the meeting of Tweed with waters that are famous in song and 

 story — Gala, Teviot, Leader, and Till. 



Tweed is par excellence a late autumn or early winter river so far 

 as salmon-fishing is concerned, and that is why we have chosen 

 this most famous of Scottish streams — it is English, too, in part 

 of its course, for that matter — for illustration in November. 



From one cause or another the spring fishing on Tweed is not 

 of much account ; the glorious tints of autumn have appeared 

 among the Border woodlands before the best of the rod-fishing on 

 Tweed is in full swing, and not infrequently the unmistakable signs 

 of early winter have made themselves manifest in what used to be 

 the debatable land between the two sister countries. 



Not until the 15th of September are the nets removed, and the 

 fish afforded a clear run to the upper waters, but even then, not 

 having yet acquired the cloud-compelling powers of our American 

 brethren, the autumn rains are often slow of coming, and October, 

 if not November, sees the best sport of the season. With the first 

 " spate" the salmon rush up the river in thousands, and when the 

 waters have subsided in volume, and assumed the clear brown tint 

 so dear to the fisherman's eye, he reaps the reward of his patience 

 in grand sport ! The charmingly situated little town of Kelso 

 may be said to be the central spot for the splendid fishing which is 

 obtained on Tweed in the autumn months. Close by is Floors 

 Castle, the seat of the Duke of Roxburgh, and his Grace's water 

 is second to none on Tweed, and immediately below Kelso Bridge 

 is the celebrated pool, " Maxwheel," the subject of our sketch, 

 where the late Duke — than whom no better angler ever threw a fly 



M m 2 



