THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 267 



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 l 

 about it, or both ; and then cast in bavins in some 

 places not far from the side, and in the most 

 sandy places, for fish both to spawn upon, and to 

 defend them and the young fry from the many fish, 

 and also from vermin, that lie at watch to de- 

 stroy them ; especially the spawn of the carp and 

 tench, when 't is left to the mercy of ducks or 

 vermin. 



He and Dubravius and all others advise that 

 you make choice of such a place for your pond 

 that it may be refreshed with a little rill, or with 

 rain-water running or falling into it ; by which fish 

 are more inclined both to breed, and are also re- 

 freshed and fed the better, and do prove to be of 

 a much sweeter and more pleasant taste. 



To which end it is observed that such pools as 

 be large and have most gravel, and shallows where 

 fish may sport themselves, do afford fish of the 

 purest taste. And note that in all pools it is best for 

 fish to have some retiring-place, as, namely, hollow 

 banks, or shelves, or roots of trees, to keep them 

 from danger ; and when they think fit, from the ex- 

 treme heat of summer, as also from the extremity 

 of cold in winter. And note that if many trees 

 be growing about your pond, the leaves thereof 

 falling into the water make it nauseous to the fish, 

 and the fish to be so to the eater of it. 

 1 Poplars. 



