CARP. 7 



its cold situation, render it necessary to secure 

 the fry against the rigors of the ensuing win- 

 ter, the water of the pond must be let off, in 

 which case, the fry and old fish will gradually 

 retire to the ditches which communicate with 

 the hole in the middle of the pond, and a 

 net with small meshes, is then employed to 

 catch both the fry and the old ones. The 

 old breeders are then to be separated from 

 the fry, and put into separate ponds that are 

 warmer ; this should be done in a calm mild 

 day at the latter end of September. The nur- 

 sery is the second kind of pond intended 

 for the bringing up of the young fry ; the best 

 time to put them into the nursery is in March 

 or April ; a thousand or twelve hundred of these 

 fry may be allotted to each acre of a pond ; 

 and if the water and soil agree with them, it is 

 almost certain that they will grow, during two 

 summers, so much as to weigh four and some- 

 times five pounds, and to be fleshy and well- 

 tasted. The main ponds are the last kind ; in 

 these Carp are to be put that measure a foot, 

 head and tail inclusive ; every square of fifteen 

 feet is sufficient for one Carp, and will afford 

 food and room for the fish to play in. Spring 

 and Autumn are the best seasons for stocking 

 the main ponds. The growth of the fish will 

 always be in proportion to the food they have ; 



