Chapter VIII. 

 THE PROPAGATING BED. 



Having now had a general view of the ponds, the reader's 

 attention is directed to a detailed study of them, each one separately, 

 the method of their construction, and the reason why they differ 

 from one another; for, being made each with a specific purpose to 

 serve, they of course must be built with that object in view. 



The spawning-pond, or "propagating bed," is situated at that 

 end of the rearing-pond where the water makes its entrance. It is a 

 division consisting of a board frame eighteen (i8) inches in depth 

 and four (4) feet wide by eight (8) feet long, fashioned very much 

 like the frame of a gardener's hot-bed. This frame, when ready, is 

 to be sunk about two inches into the soil composing the bottom of the 

 pond, and very accurately at that; for if this precaution is not taken, 

 the fish are very apt to escape from the pond through any aperture 

 that may be left. The upper edge of the frame should be not less 

 than six inches above the usual level of the water, thus preventing 

 the danger of overflow. In the side facing the supply drain, about 

 two inches above the water level, and in the other forming the 

 division of the rearing-pond, about one inch bdoiu this level, small 

 openings for the entrance and exit of the water are cut and care- 

 fully covered with galvanized iron-wjre gauze, of about eight meshes 

 to the inch. 



37 



