218 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 



To wh ich 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, i t 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 ex- 

 treme heat of the 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. 



'Tis no ted that the tench 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 bul- 

 rushes, 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 lett ing your pond dry, and sowing oats in the bottom, is 

 also goo d, for the fish feed the faster : and being sometimes 

 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. 



Leba ult also advises, that if your ponds be not very large 

 and ro omy, that you often feed your fish by throwing into 

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

 chicke ns or of any fowl or beast that you kill to feed your- 

 selves ; for these afford fish a great relief. He says, that 

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

 and t he young fry of all fish, especially of the carp ; and I 

 have, besides experience, many testimonies of it. But Lebault 

 allow s water-frogs to be good meat, especially in some months, 

 if they be fat : but you are to note, that he is a Frenchman ; 

 and w e English will hardly believe him, though we know 

 frogs are usually eaten in his country : however, he advises 

 to d e stroy them and king-fishers out of your ponds. And he 

 advis es not to suffer much shooting at wild fowl ; for that, he 

 says, affright ens and harms and destroys the fish. 



N ote, that carps and tench thrive and breed best when no 

 other fish is put with them into the same pond ; for all other 

 fish devour their spawn, or at least the greatest part of it. 



