HOWIETOUN PLANK PONDS. 



153 



being 20 feet above the old bed, and the other (No. 14) being 

 1 2 feet. The ground lends itself to this formation, and the largest 

 flood would spread itself harmlessly. As a general rule, the ponds 

 should be constructed well above the nearest point of the water- 

 course, and, as it is absolutely necessary to be able to completely 

 drain the ponds or any single pond at a moment's notice, height 

 above the water-course enables this to be done conveniently and 

 cheaply. Shelter is also a consideration ; and, as trees are impos- 

 sible on account of the leaves, which foul the water to an extent 

 sufficient to reduce very largely the number of trout that can be 

 kept in it, shelter must therefore be sought in position rather than 

 artificially, and a valley not too deep, a valley over which the wind 

 is lifted by higher ground, and not one up or down which it 

 sweeps, should be selected. 



The Howietoun offers all these advantages, and the site chosen 

 for the plank pond was selected to give the greatest extent to the 

 future fishery, and to command the whole water-supply, and yet 

 leave ample clearance for flood-water, and so that every pond 

 should have an ample fall to the old course for drainage, and by 

 the shortest line. To accomplish this the stream was tapped 

 about 50 yards above the site fixed for the plank pond, and the 



FIG. 114 scale fa. 



water led through a pipe into a leaf-screen. A square hole was cut 

 in the field, and the sides built with stone hammer-dressed. In this 



