$4 HOME FISHING AND HOME WATERS. 



more than one pond is to be made, a fall of from five 

 to ten feet would be an advantage. If the water sup- 

 ply is abundant, there is less necessity for fall. 

 The water from a spring near its source remains at 

 nearly the same temperature during the whole year, 

 and is therefore the best for trout raising. Brook 

 water which does not rise higher than sixty-eight 

 degrees Fahrenheit during the hottest summer 

 months, may be used to supply ponds for adult trout. 

 If the water remains cool enough only during ten 

 months or even more in the year, and then during a 

 dry time gets warmer, it causes the death of all the 

 fish. 



It is not, as a rule, a good plan, by damming up a 

 stream, to make ponds that vary in volume. There 

 should be enough level land by the side of such a 

 stream to make ponds to be supplied by the stream, 

 and it is best to have a stream much greater in 

 volume than is necessary for the ponds. This will 

 always furnish a good supply of water, and there 

 will be no trouble with the surplus in case of a 

 freshet. 



It is desirable to have the pond as near the dwell- 

 ing house as possible. You will then be able to give 

 the fish more care and attention than if the pond 

 was at greater distance. Another reason, and quite 

 an important one, too, for having the pond near the 

 house, is, that it may then be guarded against 

 poachers. There are many men who would have no 

 particular conscientious scruples against quietly 

 stealing to your pond at night and drawing a net 

 through it, after you have it nicely stocked. There 

 have been many instances of this kind, and too much 



