[1 79] POND CtJLtTjRE. 



Giri 



ditches bo put in order tlirongli which the water is to be let out Irom 

 the reeds aiul deep j)l{ices. 



Ponds which have been constructed only the year before are likewise 

 tilled at this time (in spring), but sliould not be stocked iininediately, 

 but be watched for some time, to see whether they have been con- 

 structed in a thorough manner, so that any defects in the dikes, t:ii)- 

 houses, &c., may be remedied during the sunnner. In April the tish- 

 eries commence in the winter ponds and in those spawning ponds wiiich 

 have remained full of water during winter ; the stocking of the spawn- 

 ing and raising ponds should also commence about this time. Tlie 

 pond master has to superintend the fisheries and tlie stocking of tlie 

 ponds, to see to it that everything is done in order, and es])ecially to 

 watch the laborers that they treat the fish carefully and do not throw 

 or press them too hard. lie should appoint reliable persons to trans- 

 port the fish to the spawning and raising ponds, and remind them not 

 to throw the fish direct from the keg into the water, but to receive them 

 into vans at the bung-hole and thence carefully remove them and ])ut 

 them in the water. He should also caution the men not to leave the 

 ponds until they have convinced themselves that the fish have left the 

 reeds and the edges and have gone into deep water. He should remind 

 them to examine the kegs once more, before leaving the ponds, to see 

 whether some of the fish have accidentally remained in them. The 

 num ought also to examine the Avagons to see whether the driver or 

 some other person has secretcnl any of the fish. After every trij) a re- 

 ])ort should be made to the i)ond master so he can see whether all his 

 orders have been properly obeyed. If several wagons start on a trip 

 together the person in charge should be on the last wagon, so that he 

 may easily watch the rest. oSTo larger luimber of wagons should be as- 

 signed to him than he can superintend conveniently. In transporting 

 <Mrp and placing them in the i)onds double care and vigihmce should 

 lie exercised, so that no fish are stolen. Eel ponds should be stocked. 

 ^\'ith montee (young fry). If trout are to be cultivated the young fry 

 should be taken from the spawning ditches to the raising ponds, unless, 

 owing to late spawning, it is found advisable to leave them in the 

 ditches till autumn. 



After the ponds have been stocked they should be protected against 

 thieves and animals which can injure or destroy the fish. The large 

 spawning cari)and pike in the stock ponds will be a special temptation 

 to thieves. Both these kinds of fish go near the edges during the 

 spawning season, and are at that time so little shy that fre<|uent]y they 

 can be caught with the hand. Special precautions sliould, therefore, bo 

 I I ken during this period. Eelative to the protection of fish against 

 thieves, Horak says :* "Among the dangers which threaten fish, thiev- 

 ing is the most serious. The art of catching fish varies greatly; and, if 

 < < )npled with a mania for fishing or with a thievish propensity, it becomes 



Horak, TeUhmvthschaft, 1869. 



