PRACTICAL CARP CULTURE. 



31 



pond, or as far away from the dam and embankment as possible. This 

 should consist of a space wide in proportion to the size of the pond, 

 amount of water passing and frequency of inundation. This space should 

 be covered with grass or a stratum of coarse gravel, so that it will not 

 wash or cut out. The overflowing water should be conducted in a chan- 

 nel at a safe distance from the embankments of the pond to below the dam, 

 where it will take care of itself. Where the water passes out of the pond, 

 a strainer made of slats, as described for the drain box, should extend clear 

 across the space ; the slats Jbeing placed a half an inch apart. 



Where for any reason the overflow of the pond cannot be regulated 

 from the upper end, or where such an arrangement is designed only for 

 special protection against freshets, and the desire is to keep the water or- 

 dinarily below that* level, the following device introduced by Mr. George 

 Eckardt into the Forest Park ponds, of Missouri, will be found service- 

 able. I. G. W. Steedman, explaining it in his work before quoted, says: 



"Nopond is safe against storms and floods, unless it has a properly 

 constructed overflow of sufficient capacity to carry off all surplus water, 

 and at the same time not permit the escape of the fish. Overflows which 

 receive the water from the surface of the pond will clog and choke from 

 the drift leaves and other trash always brought down by heavy rains. 



The illustration shows a wooden overflow, so constructed as to prevent 

 surface drift from choking the perforations in the box C D. The arrows 

 show the water entering the box C D below the water level and near the 

 bottom of the pond, passing over the dam at B E ; at the end of this chute 

 a sheeting of boards or stone should be constructed to prevent a wash and 

 undermining of the dam by the overflow. 



Of course the sizo of the box C D, A B, I K, and the number of per- 

 forations at C D must properly be proportioned to the volume of water to 

 be expected in extreme floods, always allowing for more or less choking 

 at C D. This overflow .should be built of two-inch stuff', and thoroughly 

 coated with coal tar before being put down. If properly constructed it is 

 automatic and needs no watching. We have one in Forest Park that 

 works admirably. This sketch is made from it. 



Before the introduction of this simple overflow, it was necessary to 

 have men stationed with brooms day and night during heavy. rains to 

 keep the wire gratings swept clean of drift, to prevent disastrous over- 

 flows. Now, we have no trouble in ponds thus equipped. 



It is all important that the size and capacity of the overflow be prop- 

 erly proportioned to the maximum floods which may occur." 



We advise that C D be made of slats, as described for the mouth of th 

 drain flume. 



