268 



FISH POND AND TRANSPORTATION OF FISH. 



the adjacent hilly ground. And that those ponds which receive 

 the stale and dung of horses, breed the largest and fattest fishes. 



" In making the pond, observe that the head be at the lowest 

 part of the ground, and the trench of the flood-gate, or sluice, 

 has a good swift fall, that it may not be long in emptying. 



" If the pond carries six feet of water it is enough ; but it 

 must be eight feet deep, to receive the freshes and rains that 

 should fall into it. 



" It would be also advantageous to have shoals on the sides, 

 for the fishes to sun themselves in, and lay their spawn on ; 

 besides in other places certain holes, hollow banks, shelves, 

 roots of trees, islands, &c., to serve as their retiring places. 



" Reserve some great waters for the head-quarters of the fishes, 

 whence you may take, or wherein you may put, any quantity 

 thereof. And be sure to have stews and other auxiliary waters, 

 so as you may convey any part of the stock from one to the 

 other, so to lose no time in the growth of the fishes, but employ 

 your water as you do your land, to the best advantage. View 

 the grounds, and find out some fall between the hills, as near a 

 flat as may be, so as to leave a proper current for the water. If 

 there be any difficulty of judging of such, take an opportunity, 

 after some sudden rain, or breaking up of a great snow-in win- 

 ter, and you will plainly see which way the ground casts, for 

 the water will take the true fall, and run accordingly. 



" The condition of the place must determine the quantity of 

 the ground to be covenxl with water. For example, I may 

 propose in all fifteen acros in three ponds, or eight acres in two, 

 and not less ; and these ponds should be placed one above 

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

 head or bank of the uppej which contrivance is no less beau- 

 tiful than advantageous. 



" The head, or bank, which, by stopping the current, is to 

 raise the water, and so make a pond, must be built with the clay 



