78 THE CONSTRUCTION OF PONDS 



The spill, or place where the water makes 

 its exit when the ponds are full, must be pro- 

 tected by wire screens to prevent the escape of 

 the fish. 



I would observe here, that the foregoing ar- 

 rangement of ponds and spawning grounds are 

 essential to the rearing of trout, only ; for all 

 other kinds of fish mentioned in this work, no 

 such arrangement for spawning purposes is needed, 

 but simply gravelly shoals near the margins of 

 the pond will be sufficient. 



In a great majority of cases, fish ponds can 

 be so arranged as to serve the double purpose of 

 a fish-pond, and at the same time greatly beautify 

 the grounds. The size of the pond should be 

 proportionate to the supply of water, or the wa- 

 ter may become too stagnant to have healthy 

 fish. The quality of the water is however greatly 

 improved by introducing aquatic plants, which 

 also adds much to its beauty. Among the most 

 suitable plants for this purpose, I would men- 

 tion the white water Lily, Nymphsea Odorata, 

 Egyptian Lilly, Calla Ethiopica, Arrowhead, Sagit- 

 taria Sagittifolia for small ponds, but for large 

 ones to these might be added the Sacred Bean, 

 Nelumbium, Speciosum, which is a large lily with 

 pink flowers, N. Luteum with yellow flowers; the 

 latter is indigenous to the Southern States. The 



