81- BESTS ART OF ANGLING. 



certain holes, hollow banks, shelves, roots of 

 trees, islands, &c. to serve as their retiring places. 

 Consider, further, whether 3'our pond be a hreed- 

 er; if so, never expect any large carps from 

 thence ; the greatness of the number of spawn 

 overstocking the pond. 



iVir. 7"w/7, in order to prevent the excessive in- 

 crease of fish in his ponds, first practised cas- 

 tration on them, which made tliem grow laiger 

 than their usual size. But 1 think the operation 

 peculiarly cruel, and the purposes of it only a de- 

 testable piece of Apician refinement. 



For large ca?p^ a store-pond is ever accounted 

 best; and to make a breeding-pond become a 

 store-pond, see w hat quimtity of carps'it will con- 

 tain; then put in all milters or sMspawners; where- 

 by in a little time you mtiy have caips that are 

 both large and exceedingly fat. Thus by put- 

 ting in o'ne sex, there is an impossibility of the 

 increase of them; yet the ro«c/Ve5, notwithstand- 

 ing this precaution, Vv ill multiply. Keserve some 

 gieat waters for the head-quarters of the fishes, 

 whence you may take, or wherein you may put, 

 any quantity thereof. And be sure to liave stews 

 and other auxiliary waters, so as you may convey 

 any part of the stock from one to the other ; so 

 to lose no time in the growth of the fishes, but 

 employ your water as ^^ou do your land, to the 

 best advantage. View the grounds, and find out 

 some fall between the hills, as near a flat as may 

 be, so as to leave a proper current 'for the water. 

 ]f there be any difficulty of judging of such, 

 take an opportunity, after some sudden rain, or 

 breaking lip of a great snow in winter, and you 

 will plainly see which way the ground casts, for 

 the water will take the true fall, and run accord- 

 iwgly. 



