56 HOME FISHING AND HOME WATERS. 



none smaller than a hickory nut should be used, 

 and from that to a good-sized hen's egg. 



Not infrequently the bottom of such a pond is 

 porous, and absorbs the water nearly as fast as it runs 

 in, so that there is but little if any overflow at the 

 proper outlet. If you are short of water and wish to 

 use all you can possibly get for another pond, or for 

 other purposes, it is best to cement the bottom. 

 But if you have no further use for the water, it makes 

 no difference how it goes off, provided there are no 

 holes in the bottom large enough to let the fish es- 

 cape, and the water keeps up to its level. In case 

 the water should prove too warm for trout, such a 

 pond would answer for bass, perch, gold fish, or carp. 



CHAPTER XVII. 



PONDS FOR ARTIFICIAL PROPAGATION OF TROUT. 



THERE are scarcely two locations that present 

 exactly the same conditions for the construction of 

 trout ponds, and where the same plans could be 

 carried out with equal success. Perhaps the best 

 system for economizing water and space, and which 

 at the same time is the most convenient for chang- 

 ing the fish from one pond to another, is to build a 

 series of four or six ponds. 



Make them entirely of wood. The plan I have 

 adopted is to build them two abreast, and the others 

 following in order. Each should be about twenty 



