CHAP. XX.] THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 219 



choice of such a place for your pond, that it may be refreshed 

 with a little rill, or with rain-water running or falling into it ; 

 by which fish are more inclined both to breed, and are also re- 

 freshed and fed the better, and do prove to be of a much 

 sweeter and more pleasant taste. 



To which end it is observed, that such pools as be large, and 

 have most gravel, and shallows where fish may sport them- 

 selves, do afford fish of the purest taste. And note, that in all 

 pools it is best for fish to have some retiring-place ; as namely, 

 hollow banks, or shelves, or roots of trees, to keep them from 

 danger; and, when they think fit, from the extreme heat of 

 summer ; as also from the extremity of cold in winter. And 

 note, that if many trees be growing about your pond, the 

 leaves thereof falling into the water make it nauseous to the 

 fish, and the fish to be so to the eater of it. 



'T is noted that the Jench and Eel love mud, and the Carp 

 loves gravelly ground, and in the hot months to feed on grass. 

 You are to cleanse your pond, if you intend either profit or 

 pleasure, once every three or four years, especially some ponds, 

 and then let it lie dry six or twelve months, both to kill the 

 water-weeds, as water-lilies, candocks, reate, and bulrushes, 

 that breed there : and also, that as these die for want of water, 

 so grass may grow in the pond's bottom, which Carps will eat 

 greedily in all the hot months if the pond be clean. The let- 

 ting your pond dry and sowing oats in the bottom is also good, 

 for the fish feed the faster : and, being some time let dry, you 

 may observe what kind of fish either increases or thrives best 

 in that water ; for they differ much both in their breeding and 

 feeding. 



Lebault also advises, that if your ponds be not very large 

 and roomy, that you often feed your fish by throwing into 

 them chippings of bread, curds, grains, or the entrails of chick- 

 ens, or of any fowl or beast that you kill to feed yourselves ; 

 for these afford fish a great relief. He says that frogs and 

 ducks do much harm, and devour both the spawn and the 



