SCALES, MIRRORS, LEATHERS 



soil through which water can pass only with difficulty, 

 and here and there little stumpy hillocks. Shining in 

 the sun, some close to me and some a long way off, 

 were ponds like the one to which I was going. The 

 countryside is full of them, and nearly all are artificial. 

 They were made by men in the Middle Ages, by 

 cutting dams across the depressions natural to the 

 land, thus forcing the rain waters to collect, and 

 turning the depressions into ponds. And these ponds 

 were made simply to breed carp. Ever since, they 

 have formed what might be called " water estates " 

 given over entirely to breeding carp, and perfectly 

 fitted for that purpose. In other provinces of France 

 and elsewhere in Central Europe there are ponds of 

 the same sort, constructed in the same way and for 

 the same purpose. 



When I arrived, everything was ready for the opera- 

 tions which were due to begin next morning at a very 

 early hour. At the deepest point of the dams, there 

 is a large opening which can be opened or closed at 

 will by a sluice or something of the sort. When this 

 is closed, both water and fish are confined in the pond. 

 When it is opened, the water flows out, and it is only 

 necessary to put a net or a wicker network across the 

 opening to hold back the carp and prevent them 

 from escaping with the water. In front of and below 

 the sluice, at the bottom of the pond 'itself, is a large 

 hollow prepared beforehand lower than the actual pond 

 level, and in this a certain amount of water is kept 

 back. In this kind of ditch the carp collect and, since 

 it is not deep, the fishermen can get to work without 

 any particular difficulty. It only remains to take out 

 the carp. The breeder must take care that the water 

 flows out slowly, so that the fish are not frightened 

 but go down gradually in the direction of the sluice 

 as the level falls. A week or two is often devoted 

 to this operation and, when it is properly done, when 

 it is carried out gently and smoothly, none of the 

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