CHAPTER XX. 



OF FISH-PONDS, AND HOW TO ORDER THEM. 



pISCATOR. Dr. Lebault, the learned French- 

 man, in his large discourse of " Maison Rus- 

 tique," gives this direction 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, 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 

 burned, before they be driven into the earth ; for 

 being thus used, it preserves them much longer 

 from rotting. And having done so, lay fagots or 

 bavins 1 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 



1 Small fagots of light brushwood. 



