THE COMPLETE ANGLER 229 



far from the side, and in the most sandy places, for 

 fish both to spawn upon, and to defend them and the 

 young fry from the many fish, and also from vermin 

 that lie at watch to destroy them, especially the spawn 

 of the carp and tench, when 'tis left to the mercy of ducks 

 or vermin. 



He and Dubravius, and all others advise, that you 

 make choice of such a place for your pond, that it may 

 be refreshed with a little rill, or with rain-water, running 

 or falling into it ; by which, fish are more inclined both 

 to breed, and are also refreshed and fed the better, 

 and do prove to be of a much sweeter and more pleasant 

 taste. 



To which end it is observed, that such pools as be 

 large, and have most gravel and shallows where fish 

 may sport themselves, do afford fish of the purest taste. 

 And note, that in all pools, it is best for fish to have 

 some retiring place ; as namely, hollow banks, or shelves, 

 or roots of trees, to keep them into danger ; and, when 

 they think fit, from the extreme heat of the summer ; 

 as also, from the extremity of cold in winter. And note, 

 that if many trees be growing about your pond, the 

 leaves thereof, falling into the water, make it nauseous 

 to the fish,. and the fish to be so to the eater of it. 



'Tis noted that the tench and eel love mud : and the 

 carp loves gravelly ground, and in the hot months to 

 feed on grass. You are to cleanse your pond, if you 

 intend either to profit or pleasure, once every three or 

 four yeat^" (especially some ponds), and then let it lie 

 dry six or twelve months, both to kill the water-weeds, 

 as water-lilies, candocks, reate, and bulrushes, that 

 breed there ; and also that as these die for want of 

 water, so grass may grow in the pond's bottom, which 

 carps will eat greedily in all the hot months, if the pond 

 be clean. The letting your pond dry, and sowing oats in 

 the bottom, is also good, for the fish feed the faster : 



