270 



SMALL ANIMALS AND INSECTS. 



[Chap. II. 



ceives a large amount of 6urfacc-water from the Blopes around. It is fifteen 

 feet deep at the greatest deptli, and has shallow bays and inlets, ■where the 

 small fish may breed and find protection from larger ones. It contains a 

 small island, and the shores are embellished with flags (li'is), water-lilies 

 {Xymphce odorata), and other water-plants. It was stocked with yellow- 

 bass, Oswego bass, white jierch, and every variety of sun-fish and minnows, 

 also a dozen gold-fish {Cyprinus auratus). And now, at the end of three 

 years, it is astonishing to note the vast increase in my scaly family. Tiiey 

 have multiplied by hundreds, and grown in size beyond all my calculations. 

 The gold-fish number several hundred, some of them over a foot in length, 

 and a iii'w of them are beautifully marked with silvery sides and red fins, 

 head, and tail ; others with golden sides and black fins and tail. I had no 

 idea that they would thus sport in colors, but certainly they are very beauti- 

 ful. The other fish have grown so much that I intend to commence using 

 them for the table in autumn. I have not fed these fish, except for amuse- 

 ment and to tame them, when a few crumbs of bread are thrown in from a 

 small bridge connecting the island with the shore, and the fish called up like 

 chickens. The sun-fish, gold-fish, and smaller fry soon learned to come at 

 my call, and to follow me in great numbers, from one end of the bridge to 

 the other, for their morning or evening meal. 



" The 3'oung bass (the old ones hold back) and the sun-fish dart to the 

 surface for their food, and have a lively scramble for it ; the gold-fish pick 

 up what sinks to the bottom. Their habits in this way are very much like a 

 flock of chickens, for some of the smaller fish take their position imme- 

 diately under my feet, to pick up the small crumbs that fall, in breaking the 

 larger ones to throw out. Some ])ersons ring a small bell to bring their fish 

 up, but I prefer calling mine. They do not appear to come from a greater 

 distance than about forty feet to any one spot. I feed them in several places, 

 to note the varieties and their growth. Now, as to the utility of this pond, 

 it furnishes ice for my own use and three or four of my neighbors who have 

 ice-houses ; it also aflbrds excellent stock water, and will doubtless hereafter 

 supply my table with fish. A small skifi" on its surface gives many a pleas- 

 ant hour of recreation to the young who are fond of rowing. 



" The construction of this pond was very simple. The earth was excavated 

 across the ravine four feet deep and five feet wide for a foundation ; then 

 stifl' clay filled in and well pounded, to prevent leakage at the bottom. The 

 earth from the bottom and sides of the ravine was thrown on the top of this 

 foundation, to raise the embankment to the proper hight. A waste weir at 

 one side, paved with flag-stones, and two feet lower than the top of the dam, 

 sufiiciently large to carry off the heaviest flow of water in very heavy rains, 

 guarded by a wire screen to prevent the escape of the fish, completed the 

 construction. It is now sodded over, and planted with willows at the foot, 

 and is considered safe. The expense of making such a pond is small, and it 

 adds much to the value of a fai-m." 



298. Trout Streams— Reasons for the Disappearance of Trout.— One of the 



