217 



CHAPTER XX. 



OF FISH- PONDS, AND HOW TO ORDER THEM. 



[ Jfiify Bag.] 



Pise. Doctor Lebault, the learned Frenchman, in his large 

 discourse of Maison Rustique* gives this direction for making 

 of fish-ponds ; I shall refer you to him to read at large, but 

 I think I shall contract it, and yet make it as useful. 



He adviseth, that when you have drained the ground, and 

 made the earth firm where the head of the pond must be, 

 that you must then, in that place, drive in two or three rows 

 of oak or elm piles, which should be scorched in the fire, or 

 half-burnt, before they be driven into the earth ; for being 

 thus used, it preserves them much longer from rotting : and 

 having done so, lay faggots or bavins of smaller wood be- 

 twixt them, and then earth betwixt and above them, and 

 then having first very well rammed them and the earth, iise 

 another pile in like manner as the first were : and note, that 

 the second pile is to be of or about the height that you intend 

 to make your sluice or flood-gate, or the vent that you intend 

 shall convey the overflowings of your pond in any flood that 

 shall endanger the breaking of the pond-dam. 



Then he advises, that you plant willows or owlers about it, 

 or both, and then cast in bavins in some places, not far from 

 the side, and in the most sandy places, for fish both to spawn 

 upon, and to defend them and the young fry from, the many 

 fish, and also from vermin that lie at watch to destroy them, 

 especially the spawn of the carp and tench, when 'tis left to 

 the mercy of ducks or vermin. 



He and Dubravius, and all others advise, that you make 

 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 refreshed and fed the better, and do pi'ove to be of a 

 much sweeter and more pleasant taste. 



* This book, translated into English by Richard Surflet, and corrected by 

 Gervase Markham, is extant, under the title of " The Country Farm." London, 

 1616, folio. 



