The Compleat ^Angler 



the 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 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 destroy them, especially the spawn of the 

 carp and tench, when 'tis 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 refreshed 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 extreme heat of the 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. 



'Tis noted that the tench and eel love mud, and the carp loves 

 gravelly ground, and in the hot months to feed on grass. You are 

 to cleanse your pond, if you intend either profit or pleasure, once 

 every three or four years (especially some ponds), and then let it lie 

 dry six or twelve months, both to kill the water-weeds, as water-lilies, 

 candocks, reate, and bulrushes, that breed there ; and also that as 

 these die for want of water, so grass may grow in the pond's bottom, 

 which carps will eat greedily in all the hot months, if the pond be 

 clean. The letting your pond dry, and sowing oats in the bottom, 

 is also good, for the fish feed the faster : and being sometimes let dry, 

 you may observe what kind of fish either increases or thrives best in 

 that water ; for they differ much, both in their breeding and feeding. 



Lebault also advises, that if your ponds be not very large and 

 roomy, that you often feed your fish by throwing into them chippings 



234 



