342 OLD FISH-PONDS SHOULD BE KESTORED. 



but they did not increase in size or numbers. Some 

 ducks were then allowed to have the run of the pond, 

 since that time the fish grew to a larger size and also 

 bred more than before. 



"When working the oyster experimental ponds at 

 Eeculvers, near Heme Bay, Kent, Mr. Port, who has 

 charge of the marshes, informed me that he could tell 

 if he handled the eels in the dark from which stream 

 they came. In a particular stream the eels were small 

 and poor, whereas in another stream not far off the eels 

 were fat and large. He and his father before him could 

 never account for this, except, from the fact that ducks 

 and geese are kept on the marsh stream where the eels 

 were good, whereas they are not kept where the eels 

 and other fish are thin. 



I fancy the meaning of this is that the ducks are 

 continually disturbing the mud in the pond with their 

 bills, and that thereby the mud is loosened, and the 

 fish, whose organs of taste are better than those of the 

 ducks, follow up the ducks and eat the minute creatures 

 which they have left ; while the mud being loosened, 

 gives facilities to the water creatures to breed. The 

 ducks should be kept away when the fish are spawning, 

 as they will eat the fish-eggs. 



Should these observations on the cultivation of fish- 

 ponds be taken up in practice, I should be very glad 

 indeed, as throughout the country there are so many 

 ponds now doing nothing at all which our forefathers 

 went to great trouble and expense in making as orna- 

 ments and recreation places to the family mansion. 



Finally, to those who wish really to take up the 

 important subject of pond cultivation, I most strongly 

 recommend a very able book published this year, which 

 gives not only information about sluices, banks, nets, 



