4 June 2017 News/Editorial
An unprecedented show of unity, and willingness to put their heads above the parapet, came last week by Tweed’s ghillies, which shows how strongly they all feel about it. Shown below is their letter objecting to what Gardo netting station has been, and still is, doing.
The names of those signing is given below.
It has been headlined in the local press last week, and a copy has gone to the River Tweed Commission and the Scottish Government.
It reads as follows:
“We the ghillies and boatmen on the Tweed object in the strongest terms to the actions of the Gardo netting station in killing spring salmon.
Whilst we release back into the water all the spring salmon we catch up to 1st July every year, as we have since 2010, Gardo net is killing all the salmon it catches, which both (a) cannot be justified in pure conservation terms and (b) is directly contrary to all recognised scientific advice that killing spring salmon at current population levels is not sustainable.
We believe these actions by Gardo will seriously impact not only our own jobs but also the jobs of many others in the Borders who depend on a viable 10 month salmon fishing season”
Nigel Fell (Boleside) Bob Harrison (West Learmouth)
Arthur Elliot (Upper Pavilion) Doug Tait (Tweedmill)
Jake Patterson (Upper Pavilion) John Eddie (Tillmouth)
Mick Charlton (Middle Pavilion) Kevin Wright (Milne Graden)
Rod Dixon (Upper Dryburgh) Matthias Viethen (Ladykirk)
George Inglis (Lower Dryburgh) Peter Lee (Pedwell)
Craig Duke (Upper Mertoun)
Edward Dodds (Drygrange)
Kevin Patterson (Tweedswood)
Andrew Rohleder (Gledswood)
Ian Farr (Bemersyde)
Michael Farr (Rutherford)
Colin Pringle (Makerstoun)
Colin Bell (Upper Floors)
Ritchie Donavan (Upper Floors)
Jonathon Mackereth (Lower Floors)
Bryan Jewels (Lower Floors)
Billy Jack (Junction)
Pud Murray (Junction)
Gavin Brown (Junction)
Bob Jewels (Upper Hendersyde)
John Kitchingham (Hendersyde)
Nigel Fenton (Hendersyde)
Craig walker (Sprouston)
Billy Williams (Sprouston)
Lee Craig (Carham)
Bob Smith (Carham)
Tom Davis (Lower Birgham)
Ryan Morrison (Lower Birgham)
Martin Ritchie (Upper North wark)
Calum Manson (Lower North Wark)
Richard Farr (South Wark)
Patrick Robertson (South Wark)
Malcolm Campbell (The Lees)
Paul Hume (The Lees)
Some say enough has been said already about Gardo in these pages. No more need be said now.
The ghillies and boatmen of the Tweed have said it all, and those concerned for the survival of Tweed’s spring salmon should congratulate them.
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Something unusual in the forecast for the coming week…….RAIN.
I know Coldstream is not where Tweed’s water comes from, but nonetheless Johnny Aitchison at Lochton tells me that, after April’s 9mm, there was just 25mm in May, so we have had 1 1/2 inches in 2 months, at a time when everything is growing and water take-up by trees, crops and all other growing things is at its maximum.
Unsurprisingly, almost no fresh water has entered the river, which is now dead low.
Next week looks distinctly unsettled, starting on Sunday night and going on into Tuesday, with further rain later in the week.
We need a 5 or 6ft flood minimum to clear the river out, and that will take at least 2 inches of rain at Eskdalemuir, Brockhoperig, and Crook Inn at the tops of the Teviot, Ettrick and Tweed respectively.
Every other river in Scotland wants the same, to kick start some good summer fishing after what has been, for all rivers, a distinctly lack lustre spring.
As we get towards mid June, and in the knowledge that last year very little came into any UK salmon rivers after mid August, much could be hanging on what happens over the next 8 to 10 weeks.
Scottish salmon fishing needs a good year, and as we found out in 2010, a poor spring means nothing as a predictor of summer and autumn numbers.
All we can do, in the absence of any reliable information, is wait and hope.
My roses won’t like it, but we need rain…. and then more rain.
We just might get it.
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