CONSTRUCTION OK TROUT PONDS. 53 



the darkness of the night serves in the same way as 

 a cloak thrown over the head in the day-time, in 

 looking below the ice, through which means objects 

 can be seen a considerable distance down. The fish 

 have apparently little fear of the light, and- the boat 

 is easily paddled up to within a few feet of them, 

 when the deadly spear is used. Not only are many 

 captured in this way, but many are injured which 

 are not brought to the boat, so that they die by 

 being pierced by the tines of the spear, and death 

 is the result in a few hours or days, according to the 

 injury. 



There are also several other ways by which fish 

 are destroyed while on their spawning beds, as by 

 shooting, snaring, etc., but I think I have explained 

 the matter sufficiently, and trust it will make an im- 

 pression .on the minds of my readers, so that they 

 will exert their influence to protect the fish from 

 illegal modes of capture at all times, and their 

 wholesale destruction, particularly when they are 

 on their spawning beds. 



CHAPTER XVI. 



CONSTRUCTION OF TROUT PONDS. 



THE most necessary requirement for the construc- 

 tion of a trout pond is a plentiful supply of pure 

 spring water. The spring or springs, if there are 

 several should have a fall of two or three feet, and if 



