The object in having the first pond higher than the 

 others, is that a supply of water may pass from it to the 

 lower ones in succession : the ponds being connected by a 

 water-course and protected by flood-gates, must have a 

 sufficient depth and descent to allow the whole of the 

 water to pass off readily to the next in succession. 



The ponds ought not to be nearer to each other than one 

 hundred yards ; the greater the distance between them the 

 better, as each can then have the benefit of the refuse 

 washings of the neighbourhood and adjoining fields, which 

 will of course contribute largely to the support of the stock. 

 Moreover, by having a long water-course between the 

 ponds, when either of them is sluiced off, or as the term is 

 " fished," that part of the store, which invariably escapes 

 with the fall of water, can be recovered in a much clean- 

 er and consequently more healthy state than those which 

 are left behind in the slam or mud. 



Clay soils are not genial to fish ; therefore light loamy 

 or gravelly bottoms ought to be chosen for the ponds ; if 

 however, the clay is not too deep, and by excavating it 

 yellow sand can be reached, then it will leave an equally 

 soft and pure bottom, the sides being of less importance. 



In clay bottoms the fish do not thrive, from want of food, 

 in consequence of the water partaking of the racy* quality 



*Racy is the term for a species of iron-stone sand found in clay strata. 



