44 FISH FARMING I 



up to a disastrous degree of temperature. A good workable 

 depth for a pond 50ft. by 10ft. is 18in. at the shallow end to 

 4ft. Gin. at the deep end, and it may well be that the width of 

 the pond should be considerably decreased before the depth is 

 increased to any very great extent, even at the expense of 

 having the sides at a more vertical angle than is advisable 

 under normal favourable circumstances. 



It is always a nuisance and the source of continual trouble 

 and often expense when ponds are formed above the level 

 of the surrounding countryside. I do not recommend their 

 construction under such circumstances. Still, I have 

 seen ponds successfully formed so; and the next illus- 

 tration (turf-sided ponds) illustrates the best method I know of 



Fig. 11. Section of a Rearing Pond. 



in this connection. I photographed these ponds while they were 

 in course of construction, at Mr. C. Braun's fishery, at Sowley, 

 Lyming'ton, Hants, in order that the method of their forma- 

 tion should be made quite plain. The sides are formed, 

 in the first place, from ordinary turf, cut from the surface of 

 the adjoining meadow-land, and then piled one turf top of 

 another, until the desired height is reached, in the manner 

 shown. Afterwards soil is heaped against the outside until a 

 long, shelving bank is formed. Other soil is heaped inside, 

 so that the ponds assume the shape as in Fig. 11. They are 

 then puddled, and form very decent rearing ponds of their 

 sort. 



Should a pond become very foul from any cause and where 

 constant care is not exercised this is very likely to occur take 

 no half -measures. Lower the water out and give the bottom 

 and sides a plentiful dressing of lime, as shown in the next 

 illustration. Then let the pond lie fallow for two, three, or even 

 four months, and fill up again, being very careful net to let 

 any of the surplus water escape to any other pond below. Run 



