of the earth, which from its cold and sterile nature does not 

 afford the nutriment requisite for the maintenance of the 

 larvae of insects, worms, and other minute living crea- 

 tures, in sufficient number, and so keeps the stock lean 

 and unfit for food. 



In forming ponds particular care ought to be taken to 

 make the sides shelve gradually for about six yards ; and 

 they are on no account to be deep at the sides, firstly, on 

 account of the sward nourishing large quantities of insects, 

 &c., the legitimate food of the fish; secondly, the ponds 

 are not so easily poached, the shallows being protected by 

 stakes ; and thirdly, protection is afforded to the brood. 



The only deep that ought to exist at either side should 

 be near the sluice or flood-gate, where it should be 

 twelve or eighteen inches deeper than the rest of the pond, 

 in order that when the water is drawn off, the fish may be 

 collected into a close space, and when the sluice is again 

 closed, that an accumulation of water may immediately 

 take place, sufficient for the protection of the brood or 

 succeeding store. 



In the rainy season it is always advisable to let the 

 ponds fill to the full extent of their prescribed boundaries, 

 as this not only brings a large proportion of food from the 

 adjacent grounds, but when the water is again let off or re- 

 cedes, the borders produce luxuriant and tender herbage, 

 peculiarly adapted for the food of carp, and upon which 



