ARTIFICIAL FISH PONDS. 



109 



emptied into another for the mutual convenience of 

 cleaning and repairing. Also, the uppermost ought to 

 be shallower than those below, and more exposed to 

 the sun, so as to serve for a nursery and breeding pond. 

 Bream live well with perch in a warm situation ; they 

 are not, however, obtained readily in Scotland. Perch 

 ponds should be let off and paved with channel stones 

 every four or five years ; many allow them to remain fal- 

 low for some months, and others sow them with grass 

 and oats ; a conceit laboriously encouraged by whimsy 

 and theoretical writers of bygone days. We are no 

 sticklers for antiquated and idle absurdities, and believe 

 that many fish, for whose benefit they are performed, 

 will thrive as well without them, provided you afford 

 sweet, fresh water, and a plentiful allowance of food. 

 Perch in some preserves have been known, although 

 rarely, to attain the weight of three or four pounds, 

 averaging, when well fed, from twelve to twenty ounces. 



PERCH PONDS. 



a. Upper, or breeding pond. 



b. Lower pond. 



c. Covered sluice, with moveable gratings. 



d. Sluice with flood-gate. 



e. Small feeder. 



We proceed next to give a few directions how to 

 raise and improve the pike ; and we may notice, that 



