The Farm Fishpond 2015 



For convenience in remoxHing the fishes when the pond is drained, 



there should be a basin or kettle from fifteen to twenty feet in diameter 



near the outlet and at least one ^ jo- .^ ^o'—^ «?- - 



foot deeper than the contiguous 3*;^?-----M.«^^'f-»'J=a*--^^jr^'^^ ' 



area. The whole pond bottom ■ ^^a- 



should be so graded as to elimi- ^^- ^7-\-~ Cross section of tli^fishpoud showing 



„ , . , , the topography of Die bottom 



nate all depressions other than 



those already mentioned. Every part should slope gently towards the 



outlet basin. 



Excavation attd dike building 



A pond should first be laid out by driving stakes into the ground indi- 

 cating both the inner and the outer margins of the dike. The width of 

 the dike at any height should be at least four times the depth of the water 

 at that point. Thus in figure 175 the width from A to B is four times 

 the distance from A to C. The slope AD should be no greater than what 

 is termed a half pitch by housebuilders, and the pond may be managed 

 better if the slope is still more gradual. 



The removal of all sod is next in order. It is necessary that this be 

 scraped, roots and all, from every part of the pond and the dike area. 

 The dike will thus rest on bare soil without any grass, roots, or pieces 

 of wood between. Nor should any of these substances go into the dike 

 itself, for they will decay and leave cavities, which will sooner or later 

 give trouble. The sod should not be destroyed, how^ever, for it will be 

 useful in surfacing the dike to protect it from wave action. 



The pond may be excavated in one of two ways: namely, by the use of 

 d\Tiamite, or with plow and scraper. The former method will not be 

 treated here, but those who are interested may obtain the necessary in- 

 formation from pamphlets issued by manufacturers of dynamite. By the 

 second method, excavation should start at the center of the pond area 

 and gradually extend in every direction to the dike area. The soil removed 

 may be dumped immediately along the margin to form the dike, but all 

 rocks or other undesirable substances should be taken from it, because the 

 material used to form the dike should be as homogeneous as possible. 

 After each layer of soil from four to six inches deep is uniformly spread, it 



must be tamped, rolled, or trodden 

 down to insure compactness, and 

 if it is wet dtuing the operation, a 

 greater degree of compactness will 



^^•'^•3-r'^/Tf'"'^Tf!r^'''r"^5'''^^" result. In this manner the dike is 

 ■width of dike and depth of -water 



built as excavation proceeds, which 

 saves some labor and time. The top of the dike should be at least two 

 feet above the proposed water level in the pond so that any upheaval 



