[183] POND CULTURE. (540 



isbed. The winter ponds — near which on large pond iUrms there lives a 

 special siiiieriutendent — should be examined by the i)oiul master every 

 day, and, if necessary, several times a. day. During the very first 

 days after the fish have been placed in the winter ponds they should 

 be carefully watched to see whether they become accustomed to their 

 new place of sojourn, whether they have gone to their hiding-i^laces 

 and remain there quietly, or whether they frequently rise; to the sur- 

 face. If this is the case the cause should immediately be ascertained 

 and remedied. If accidentally fish of prey have got into the ponds 

 they should at once be removed. If the fish become languid, an<l keep 

 near the surface, the water must be renewed ; and if this has no effect 

 the fish must be put in other winter ponds. If soon after the fish have 

 been put in the winter ponds they seek their hiding-places, and stay 

 there quietly, this is a sure sign that they have become accustomed to 

 the pond and that the water suits them. Great care should be taken 

 that the water tlows iii and out of the winter ponds freely and regularly, 

 and as soon as ice forms near the outflow or influx it should be removed 

 at once. The pond master should also give his constant attention to 

 the tap-houses and grates and free them from ice, especially when thaw 

 sets in, so that the ice cannot lift the tap and stand-pipe. If the i^ond 

 master pays daily visits to the winter ponds, ho will soon notice any in- 

 dications of sickness among the fish and take timely measures to pre- 

 vent its spreading. Wherever it is necessary, air-holes have to be 

 sawed in the ice — not cut, because cutting will scare the fish from their 

 resting-i^laces and cause them to rise to the surface, when their fins will 

 freeze to the ice. These air-holes should never be made over the lair of 

 the fish, but at a considerable distance from it. The snow should al- 

 ways be cleaned off, especially near the air-holes. If thaw sets in, the 

 water should be allowed to flow ott" the ice. 



A lookout should be kept for otters, which like to visit the ponds dur- 

 ing winter, and they should be caught or shot as soon as opportunity 

 offers. Keeds protruding through the ice should be cut off. All that 

 has been said regarding winter ponds also applies to fish-tanks. 



If fisheries in open lakes or rivers are connected with the ])ond farm, 

 the pond master should also give some of his attention thereto. In 

 summer nets are used in the river and lake fisheries — the "wild fish- 

 eries," so-called — traps are set, and some fish are caught with hooks and 

 lines. In July and August many bleak and other small fish are caught 

 with hooks and lines. Eels are caught with the night-line. Crawfish 

 are caught in the brooks, and net fisheries are carried on in the lakes 

 and rivers. In autumn the line and net fisheries are continued. These 

 few hints relative to the " wild fisheries" must suffice, as they do not 

 properly come within the scope of this work. 



