OF FISH-PONDS. 345 



some ponds), and then let it lie dry six or twelve months, 

 both to kill the water-weeds, as water-lilies, candocks, reate 

 [sedge], and bullrushes, 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 letting your pond dry, and sowing 

 oats in the bottom, is also good, 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. 



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 

 chickens 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 young fry of all fish, especially of the carp ; 

 and I have, besides experience, many testimonies of it. But 

 Lebault allows 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 we English will hardly believe him, 

 though we know frogs are usually eaten in his country: how- 

 ever, he advises to destroy them and kingfishers out of 

 your ponds. And he advises not to suffer much shooting 

 at wild fowl ; for that, he says, affrightens and harms and 

 destroys the fish. 



Note, 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. 

 And note, that clods of grass thrown into any pond, feed any 

 carps in summer; and that garden earth and parsley thrown 



