MAKING FISH-PONDS, STEWS, ETC. 



81 



and these ponds should be placed one above ano- 

 ther, so as the point of the lower may almost reach 

 the head or bank of the upper, which contrivance 

 is no less beautiful than advantageous. 



The head, or bank, which by stopping the cur- 

 rent, is to raise the water, and so make a pond, 

 must be built with the clay or earth taken out of 

 the pan or hollow, dug in the lowest ground above 

 the bank : the shape of the pan to be a half oval, 

 whereof the flat to come to the bank, and the 

 longer diameter to run square from it. 



For two large ponds of three or four acres a- 

 piece, it is advisable to have four stews, each two 

 rods wide, and three long. The stews are usually 

 in gardens, or near the house, to be more handy 

 and better looked to. The method of making 

 them, is to carry the bottom in a continual decline 

 from one end, with a mouth to favour the draw- 

 ing them with a net. 



