5G2 KEI'ORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [96] 



ni!(l winter, so as to keep away from tlie lish all enemies and liuitiul 

 inllnences. 



Keeping the dilces in repair. — The i)ioper depth of water will princi- 

 ])ally depend on the charaeter of the dike. It should therefore be one 

 of the main objects of the ])ond (Mdtivator to keep the dikes constantly 

 in good repair. For this purpose they should bo carefully examined 

 irom time to time, and any damage that is discovered should be repaired 

 at once. The most suitable time for making rei)airs is after the autumn 

 lisheries. When the water has been let oif the dike should be carefully 

 examined ; any damage Avhich is found should be repaired without delay, 

 and if considerable the work should go ou, as the weather permits, until 

 it is completed. If il is im])ossil)le at the time to make thorough re- 

 pairs, something should be done to prevent the spreading of the dam- 

 age, and the thorough repairs should be nuide as soon as practicable. 

 tSmall breaks in the dike are most <piickly repaired by ramming in piles 

 below the damaged place on the water sid<', by tilling the space between 

 the dike and these piles witli small willow fasciues, and by covering the 

 whole closely and lirndy with sod. Holes in the dikes and banks are 

 111 led with earth and clay mixed with stones. Teichmann says on this 

 subject : " If water penetrates the dike in one or more places, this should 

 be immediately remedied, for if there is great pressure the water will 

 soon widen out the holes and break through the dike. In this case 

 loamy or clayey soil should be })iled upon the water side, wherever holes 

 are found, and the evil thus be checked. ^Manure mixed with straw 

 may sometimes answer the purpose. If by employing one or the other 

 of these remedies the holes cannot be entirely stopped u]), extensive re- 

 pairs should be made as soon as the fisheries are over. Wherever the 

 dike has suffered any damage it should be dug up, and if the soil has 

 not much consistency it should be mixed with loam or clay and rammed 

 down firmly. The mended place is covered with pieces of sod. If the 

 pond is large, and the waves strike the covering of sod violently, it may 

 be well to construct a fence of willow branches in front of the mended 

 place and till the space between it and the dike with earth.''* 



These hints for repairing dikes must suffice, as any one who has care- 

 fully studied the chapters treating of the construction of dikes will 

 easily find ways and means for making all the necessary repairs. 



After the fisheries are over, the outfiow-pipes, taps, and stand-pipes 

 should also be carefully examined, and repairs be made wherever needed. 

 The weirs and grates should likewise be examined, and if necessary be 

 repaired or renewed. The ditches should be cleaned of mud and acpiatic 

 plants. 



Keeping the rrater at a proper height. — To do this it will be necessary to 

 keel) up a constant and even sui)ply of water from the outside, and reg- 

 ulate the outfiow after the pond has received its full sui)ply. The best 

 l)lan will be to introduce into the ponds clear running water from brooks 



'Tcicbuiann, Dtr erfahrcnc Fischvieiafer, 1821. 



y 



