104 BRITISH SPORTING FISHES. 



When each of the ponds had been worked in 

 rotation, one was growing a crop of vegetables, 

 another fry and yearlings, and the third breeders, 

 and fish fattening for the market. Suitable 

 weeds were grown about the margins of the 

 ponds, and in many instances much care was 

 taken in the matter of feeding. As the fish grew 

 to a large size they were netted and placed in 

 the actual stew. An ingenious contrivance for 

 taking these out at pleasure was a strong wooden 

 box, having holes in the bottom, which was 

 sunk where the water was deepest. As required, 

 the box was wound up with a chain, contents 

 and all. 



A great variety of fish were kept in the ponds, 

 and fatted in the stews when these were in vogue. 

 Among them were carp, tench, pike, eels, trout, 

 and many others. Thought was given to the 

 habits of these, and while tench and eels suc- 

 ceeded best in mud, carp were kept on gravelly 

 bottoms. Certain fish devoured the spawn of 

 others, and care had to be taken to protect one 

 species against its neighbours. On this account, 

 carp and tench thrive and breed best when no 

 other fish are put with them into the same pond. 

 Walton reminds us that in stocking a pond with 

 carp, it is necessary to put into it two or three 

 milters for one spawner, and that it should have 



