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The “Breaking” of Barton Fishpond. 
By J. E. NOWERS. 
Reap Berorr tHe Narurat History anpD GEOLOGICAL SECTION, 
December 17rH, 1909. 
The fishpond, near Barton and Walton Station, on the Midland 
Railway, has been the scene of a curious phenomenon during the 
summer months of 1908, 1909, and 1910. This pond is an old 
ballast pit, about seven acres in extent, and of considerable depth in 
places. There is no stream running into it, but a brook runs out on 
the east side, discharging into the Trent. The water is no doubt 
partly supplied by springs in the bottom ofthe pond, and of course 
a large quantity of rain water is collected in that area. 
I believe it is between thirty-five and forty years since gravel 
was dug out of it, the water getting ahead of the pumping engines 
and drowning the pit out. It is now stocked with fish, and is the 
private fishing of the Midland Railway Institute Fishing Club. On 
Sunday afternoon, July 4, 1909, 1 visited the pond, and instead of 
finding the water of the usual transparency, the surface was covered 
with a thick green scum, which on the lee side the wind had driven 
into quite a solid mass, and all over the pond one could see quite 
distinct tracks made by coot and other water fowl, including the 
Great Crested Grebe, a pair having again taken up their abode on 
the pond, and this year have hatched off a brood of young. I saw the 
old birds with three or four young several times. 
On taking a sample tube of the water as deep down as I could 
reach, and holding it up to the light, I found it to be full of minute 
Algze, which appear to float throughout the full depth of the pond ; 
probably being about the same specific gravity as water, 
