CONSTRUCTION OF PONDS. 31 



pond in which the youngest fishes are to be placed. 

 Each pond should, if possible, be so arranged 

 that it may be drawn entirely off without affecting 

 the remaining ponds. The shape of the ponds is 

 a matter of importance. For ornamental pleasure 

 grounds the circle or elipse may suit, but for work- 

 ing ponds the form should be always oblong, and 

 the width no greater than twenty-five feet. This 

 will allow the ready removal of dead fish or any 

 filth which may accumulate upon the bottom, 

 which it would be impossible to reach were the 

 pond of a circular or even oblong form. Should 

 the formation of the ground permit, the ponds 

 should be placed parallel to each other, and not, 

 as is too frequently the case, strung along like 

 beads upon a string. It must be remembered that 

 the hardest work of the fish-farmer occurs in the 

 coldest season of the year, and the whole works 

 should be arranged as compactly as possible, that 

 every unnecessary step may be avoided. A full 

 suite of ponds need not occupy a space of over 

 two hundred and fifty by one hundred feet. 



As an example of a complete system of ponds, 

 we present on the following page a diagram show- 

 ing the arrangement of our works at Troutdale, 

 near Bloomsbury, N. J., the compactness and 

 convenience of which we think can scarce be ex- 

 celled. The original plan, which, however, we 



