6 



Information concerning a structure desi gned along these 

 lines is obtainable from a qualified civil engineer. 



Where water cannot be obtained by gravity, pumping 

 is sometimes justified. The pumping cost is a continu- 

 ing and constant one, and operations must be on a scale 

 large enough to justify it. It is essential to have a 

 cheap source of power. In order to make operations as 

 thrifty as possible, the ponds must be tight enough to 

 prevent too great a loss from seepage. Some operators 

 arrange construction in such a way that when one pond 

 is being drained, a portion of the water can be directed 

 into another empty pond and used again. This saves 

 pumping costs and fertilizer. 



Where a series of ponds is operated, the most 

 satisfactory results are obtained by storing the water 

 in a reservoir from which it may be taken as required. 

 Generally, such a reservoir is constructed by building 

 an earthen dike just below the source of water. This 

 has the advantage of providing an adequate source of 

 water supply as needed and eliminating obnoxious gases 

 or minerals which are removed by aeration and storage. 



Water may be forced to a higher level by means of 

 a ram if conditions are satisfactory for its operation. 

 When the source of water is a spring, it must have a 

 large capacity to justify the use of a ram, as a ram 

 is wasteful. Only about one-seventh of the water can 

 be forced upgrade. A 1-foot fall from the spring to 

 the ram is required for every 10 feet that the water 

 must be forced vertically to the pond, and the flow is 

 further reduced inproportion to the horizontal distance 

 the water must be pushed. A large reservoir which will 

 permit the use of water in the pond system, as neces- 

 sary, is preferable to having the ram supply the ponds. 

 Usually, obtaining water for fish ponds by the use of 

 a ram is inadequate and unsatisfactory. 



A windmill can be used for small ponds of 1/4 to 

 1/2 acre. Local conditions, such as the amount of 

 rainfall and evaporation, will help to determine the 

 size of pond that can be filled and maintained by this 

 method. The size of the pumping equipment and other 

 elements involved in windmill operation will assist in 

 deciding whether a windmill should be used. It may be 

 suitable for a small natural pond. 



LOCATION OP THE PONDS 



Enough emphasis cannot be placed upon the proper 

 location of ponds. The selection of a good site results 



