CHAPTER XIII. 



FISH POND AND TRANSPORTATION OP FISH. 



THIS is a subject of great importance, not only to the angler, 

 but to those who own farms or property in the country. In 

 Germany and France, the renting of fish ponds is a source of 

 large income to the owners of land, and an acre of water is 

 considered of equal value to an acre of soil. In our own coun- 

 try, a small sheet of water is considered of no particular advan- 

 tage, except it be to keep a few geese or ducks, to amuse the 

 children, to arouse the family in the morning by their incessant 

 quack, or perhaps remind them of those in the city whose per- 

 formance is the same, only one quacks through his natural in- 

 strument, and the other through the public press. Few lovers 

 of the beautiful in nature ever think of improving, enlarging, or 

 adorning a natural water spot, and making it joyous and lively 

 with the finny brood. Fewer still may think of damming a natu- 

 ral spring, widening a valley, making an outlet, and modifying 

 nature sufficient to allow depth of water capable of sustaining 

 and nourishing an animal that will conduce not only to their 

 pleasure and pastime, but also to their bodily comfort. Every 

 piece of ground of a springy or marshy description is imme- 

 diately drained, to make room for a crop of corn or potatoes, as 

 though it were intended that " man should live by bread alone." 



Many reasons might be urged in favor of artificial fish ponds, 

 but as those who love the rod are largely on the increase 

 throughout the land, the necessity of these additions to comfort, 

 economy, and picturesque beauty as well as recreation, will 

 soon be seen. The rearing and breeding of various kinds 

 of cattle and feathered creatures for food, is an object of in- 

 terest and study with the farmer, but the propagation, natural!- 



