Aiiicrlcini Fish pries Socictii. 131 



owing to lack of space, can be fully treated here. We will take 

 first in order the failure to ]iro])erly construct the embankments 

 which are to retain the water. Very briefly stated, the sods, 

 brush, grass and other ruhbisli should be cleaned away dowji to 

 the solid earth over the whole extent that is to be covered by 

 the embankment. Then a trench say two feet wide and as deep 

 sliould l)e plowed leiigtliwise tbrougliout tbe whole ex- 

 tent that is to he covered l)y the end)ankiiiciit. The 

 earth of the t'nd)ankment settles into this ])reventing 

 leaks which are almost sure to follow along the union 

 of the old and well packed earth and the new soil, if this 

 is not done. No )>rush, sods, stumps or other rubbish should be 

 ])ermitted to enter the embankment. Use nothing but clear 

 earth and if the soil l)e gravely to the extent that it is likely to 

 permit the water to filter through the inner face of the embank- 

 ment, that is, the one next to the water, should be faced with a 

 foot of clay or other impervious soil. The plow ami scraper 

 will be found the most economical, unless the lay of the ground 

 is such as to prevent, when wdieel barrows will be necessary, and 

 the team should be kept on the embankment while going and 

 coming as much as possible, so that the earth will ]je packed as 

 much as possible and prevent sloughing when the water is let 

 on. If the embankment is made of proper width at the bottom 

 and the correct slant given to the sides — observe the slant given 

 l)y nature in your vicinity — you will have an embankment that 

 will last for generations and give you no trouble. 



All ponds should be i)rovided with a sluice or outflow 

 through wbich the ordinary discharge flows and through which 

 also you may discharge the water when you wish to draw down 

 your i)ond, a matter strictly indispensable to successful pond 

 culture. The sluice may be most economically made of two-inch 

 plank a foot wide and should be long enough to go clear through 

 the embankment, the outflow, or perpendicular part being 

 securely spiked to the horizontal part which runs through the 

 embankment and is situated low enough to draw the water 

 entirely out of the pond. The face ol^ the uprigb.t, that is. the 

 side opening towards the ixtnd. is. of course, left open, the box 

 being closed on three sides, the open side being left for the 

 discharge of the water. Two grooves should be provided by 



