66 TROUT CULTURE. 



very shy even of their regular attendant, unless almost 

 mad with hunger, a state in which they should never 

 be found in a well-regulated artificial preserve. On 

 the withdrawal of the unwelcome intruders, a vast 

 splashing .takes place and the food soon vanishes. 

 This is more particularly the case when and AY here the 

 surface is unruffled by the breeze or the natural force 

 of the current ; just, in fact, at the most favourable 

 spot for the fishes both to see and be seen. 



To clear the exit from a pond a wooden guard may 

 be placed at the opening, a foot or two away from the 

 outlet screen, say eight inches under water, and four 

 above it ; this keeps the thick of the falling leaves 

 off in autumn, as they can be raked off with an 

 ordinary hay-rake and carried off in a wheelbarrow to 

 a place of safety. All the little plank foot-bridges 

 should be so made that a wheelbarrow can run easily 

 over them, the planks being so close together that the 

 wheel cannot slip through. A wheelbarrow is quite 

 indispensable about fish-ponds. If cans of fish have 

 to be taken up or down; clay, stones, or gravel 

 moved ; or anything else is in hand, the barrow 

 comes in handy, and it is better to have two than 

 none. 



In our variable climate, with its sudden drenching 

 showers, a shanty of some sort close to the ponds is a 

 great boon, especially if the ponds are any distance 

 from home. Fish can be carried there for stripping ; 

 and if night watching is required at any time it will 

 be very convenient. 



One great thing to bear in mind is to plan every- 

 thing as compactly as possible at the first ; it makes 

 less work, and work will often be done thus which 



