THE FIFTH DAY continued 

 Of Fish- Ponds 



CHAPTER XX 



PISCATOR 



DOCTOR LEBAULT, the learned Frenchman, in his 

 large discourse of Maison Rustique^ gives this direc- 

 tion for making of fish-ponds. I shall refer you to 

 him, to read it at large : but I think I shall contract 

 it, and yet make it as useful. 



He adviseth, that when you have drained the 

 ground, and made the earth firm where the head 

 of the pond must be, that you must then, in that 

 place, drive in two or three rows of oak or elm 

 piles, which should be scorched in the fire, or half- 

 burnt, before they be driven into the earth ; for be- 

 ing thus used, it preserves them much longer from 

 rotting. And having done so, lay faggots or bavins 

 of smaller wood betwixt them : and then, earth 

 betwixt and above them : and then, having first 

 very well rammed them and the earth, use another 

 pile in like manner as the first were: and note, 

 that the second pile is to be of or about the 

 height that you intend to make your sluice or flood- 

 gate, or the vent that you intend shall convey the 

 overflowings of your pond in any flood that shall 

 endanger the breaking of your pond-dam. 

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