REARING PONDS AND STREAMS. 63 



rim of perforated zinc round it. The water flows 

 through and the fry are thus retained ; they can be 

 turned out into some other vessel and conveyed to 

 the pond. Never mind any mess, that can be easily 

 cleared up afterwards. When the syphon has done 

 its work, tilt the nearly empty trough, and the rest of 

 the fry are easily got out by the net, especially if a 

 wave be made by the net, and then placed so that the 

 returning water shall pass over it. 



Shelters or shades are very good in ponds, but they 

 must be portable ; nothing should be fixed. The 

 owner should be able to look over the entire surface 

 of the '' farm under water ;" besides they can be taken 

 out when desired, and roll up a poacher's net beau- 

 tifully. If there be plenty of hides, ten thousand 

 fry will " put themselves away " in a twinkling, and 

 only come out when hungry. It is a wonderful thing 

 to see under what small shelters young fishes will 

 manage to conceal themselves. 



When settled in the ponds, well-boiled bullock's 

 lights, cut fine in the Starrett meat-chopper, should be 

 given, also the fish-biscuits of Spratt's patent (Henry 

 Street, Tooley Street, Bermondsey), soaked just enough 

 to be friable ; they may be crushed in a mortar and 

 then soaked. This is nice variety for the fishes, both 

 young and old. Three feeds a day will now suffice, or 

 even two, if there be any natural food in the water, as 

 there generally is in a pond, especially if fed by a 

 spring exposed for some distance to air and sun. 

 Insects light on, or rise to, the surface, and are snapped 

 up (or rather down) as unconsidered trifles, thus 

 affording food and amusement to the inhabitants of 

 the pond. 



