[99] POND CULTURE. 5(1') 



aid may be afforded, and the worst consequences averted, by tliiowinj; 

 black soil, if it can be obtained in the neighborhood, into the i)nn(l, until 

 it is covered to the height of 7 to 10 centimeters. Thereby the pond is 

 again rendered healthy, and the fact that the water becomes tiubid ne<'(l 

 not alarm anyone, for no fish will perish from this cause. On no condi 

 tion whatever should such a pond be drained, for thereby tlie mud is 

 stirred up, and the evil is made worse.* 



Horak is also of opinion that the stirring up of tiie mud makes mat- 

 ters worse, and considers fisheries as the only remedy. Jle says: "If 

 animal refuse is carried into i)onds located in the middle of or below 

 villages, or if cattle are driven into them, the accumulated organic mat- 

 ter will, during hot summers, particularly during the months of June 

 and July, begin to ferment, and will thereby cause the death of the 

 fish." t A pond in which a large number of fish have died should be 

 drained and sowed. 



Unless the water sinks too low, an extraordinary sui)ply of water 

 should in no case be introduced into a pond, as this will invariably drive 

 the fish away from their pasture-grounds, disturb them greatly, and 

 cause them to go towards the fresh water which flows into the i)ond. 

 Tf it is absolutely necessary- to introduce a fresh supply of water, this 

 sh(mld be done slowly and gradually. Wherever there is fear of inun- 

 dations, which generally take place in spring, but also at other seasons, 

 in consequence of violent or long-continued rains, there should be plenty 

 of ditches for superfluous water, which should always be kept clean, so 

 that they may receive the greatest possible quantity of water, ff the 

 danger of inundation is imminent, the pond must be constantly watched, 

 the grates and weirs should frequently be examined, and persons should 

 keep watch all through the night, especially if there is any fear of 

 thieves approaching the pond, for inundations carry the tish towards 

 the fresh current and offer them a chance of escai)e from the pond. 

 Unless proper i)recautions have been taken, the fish will, during an in- 

 undation, scatter all over the neighboring country ;ind will get lost or 

 stolen, unless they are gathered as soon as the waters commence to re- 

 cede and are returned to the pond. In gathering fish which have be- 

 come scattered in the manner described above, search should be made 

 for holes in the ground, where the fish will naturally go, for there are 

 not unfrequently neighbors who, on such an occasion, will dig holes with 

 a view to catch the fish. 



ImproviiKj the food-producing capacity of the ponds hy artificial means. — 

 (1) The safest way to keep up an ample supply of good food, to introduce 

 new food into the ponds, and thereby to improve them, is to diain and sow 

 the ponds at certain stated periods; in other words, to use them for a time 

 for raising grain or grass. After a pond has been fished clean and the 

 water drained off, ditches should be constructed in it in every direction, 



* Vou dem Borne, Fischzucht, p. 74. 

 t Horak, Teichwirthschafl, lbG9, 



