Salmon and Salmon-Poachers in the Border
The story revolves around a group of poachers who target salmon in the border region between two countries. The narrative explores themes of greed, corruption, and the consequences of unchecked exploitation of natural resources. The protagonist, a young man from one of the countries, becomes embroiled in the conflict when he is forced to choose between his loyalty to his family's traditions and his growing sense of morality.
By John Lang · First published 1883 · Genre: Non-fiction, Nature Writing, Humor · 5,817 words
First lines
What is it that causes a salmon to be so irresistible a temptation to the average Borderer? He knows that it is illegal to take "a fish" from the water at certain seasons, and at other times except under certain circumstances. Yet at any season and under any circumstances the sight of a fish in river or burn draws him like a magnet, and take it he must, if by any means it may be done outside the ken of the Tweed Commissioners and their minions. Even if he be a rigid observer of the law, a disciplinarian of Puritan fervour, in his heart he takes that salmon, and his pulse goes many beats faster as, standing on the bank, he watches the "bow wave" made by a moving fish in thin water, or sees it struggle up a cauld.
What this Textopian page supports
Salmon and Salmon-Poachers in the Border is listed on Textopian as a short story by John Lang, dated 1883 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: John Lang
- Date: 1883 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Non-fiction, Nature Writing, Humor, Cultural Commentary, Historical
- Length: 5,817 words
- Structure: 1 section, 42 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Salmon and Salmon-Poachers in the Border by John Lang
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Salmon and Salmon-Poachers in the Border?
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- Where does Non-fiction first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Non-fiction — The work discusses historical and legal aspects of salmon fishing and poaching, providing factual information about practices and regulations.
- Nature Writing — The text vividly describes the behavior of salmon and the natural environment of the Border rivers, emphasizing the relationship between humans and nature.
- Humor — The narrative employs wit and irony, particularly in the portrayal of characters and their humorous predicaments related to poaching.
- Cultural Commentary — The work reflects on the cultural attitudes towards fishing and poaching in the Border region, exploring themes of temptation and morality.
Tags
Fiction · Novel · Adventure · Thriller · Crime · Poaching · Scotland · Border Region · Fisheries · Wildlife Crime · Law Enforcement · Justice System