76 THE CONSTRUCTION OF PONDS. 



The whole floor of the flume is to be cov- 

 ered with fine and coarse gravel, and when com- 

 pleted the water will be about six inches in 

 depth, making as nice a place for them to deposit 

 their eggs as the most fastidious trout could 

 desire. 



I may remark here that although we do not 

 intend to propagate trout by the natural process, 

 yet it is absolutely necessary that they have all 

 the facilities for depositing their eggs, or we 

 should fail altogether in propagating either na- 

 turally or artificially, as trout must have shallow, 

 running water to deposit their eggs, or they will 

 cease spawning altogether. A great many kinds 

 of fish require nothing more than a simple pond 

 for breeding purposes, all of which will be de- 

 scribed in the proper place. 



For trout it is very desirable to have a suc- 

 cession of ponds, in order to keep the different 

 broods separate, or the young fish will be de- 

 voured by the older ones. I have seen a two 

 year old trout swallow a yearling. This may 

 look, to persons unacquainted with the habits of 

 this fish, a little fishy, but it is true nevertheless. 



The points in the cut marked A, are springs, 

 the heads of which are formed into pools of 

 about thirty feet in diameter, and eighteen inches 

 deep, the bottoms being overlaid with gravel. B 



