240 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. [part. i. 



THE FIFTH DAY. 

 chap. xx. Of Fish-ponds, and how to order them. 



Piscator. 



JL/octor Lcbault, 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 he, 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 being 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 ram- 

 med 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 the pond-dam. 



Then he advises that you plant willows or owlers 



