How to obtain it. 73 



thought it well to mention it here as a preventive of similar 

 occurrences in the future. 



The question as to which is the best kind of bottom outlet 

 for a large reservoir, will soon be settled by the engineer, who 

 should consult a fish culturist before deciding on so important 

 a matter. I will simply describe one which I designed some '" 

 thirty or more years ago, and which has in all cases worked .; 

 perfectly, and is now in use in most of my own ponds. Where ' 

 they are small it should be made of wood well charred. It is a 

 very simple contrivance both in construction and manipulation, 

 and consists of a wooden box about two or two and a half feet 

 square, and half a foot or so deeper than the deepest part of the 

 pond. Suppose this depth to be seven feet to the bottom of the 

 outlet pipe, then the box should be made, say, thirty inches by 

 thirty inches by seven and a half feet. It should be let into the 

 embankment if practicable, but if, owing to the formation of the 

 bank, it be a few feet out into the pond it does not -really matter,' 

 except that it will require stays to keep it firm, and a gangway 

 plank to connect it with the shore, 



Now for the box itself. It will be seen at once that it is not 

 the shape of an ordinary box, but may be described as long and 

 narrow. There is also a little peculiarity about its make. Let us 

 imagine it for a moment standing on one end, which we will call 

 the bottom, and which should be very securely fixed on. It 

 stands seven and a half feet high, and has four sides, one of which 

 we will call the "back." This is to be placed nearest to the bank, 

 and a round hole should be cut in this "back" as- near -to the bottom 

 as practicable. This round hole should be- just large enough to 

 allow the end of the outlet pipe to enter and project a little way 

 into the interior of the box. So much for the "back." The side 

 opposite to it we will call the " front," and -the others simply the 

 two "sides." There is nothing special to observe about the two 

 "sides" except that, like the "back," they are to be firmly put 

 together. A good square corner piece or batten in each of-the 

 four corners is a great help to the whole construction, and, in any 

 case, one must be fixed in each of. the. corners towards the front, 

 to which -we will now turn our attention. It faces the pond, and 

 as yet is quite open, except a couple of wooden straps which have 



