176 WINTER ANGLING 



an out-house or cellar, of course, because if it were 

 out the frost might stop the supply of water dur- 

 ing the night, and kill all your fish in a few hours. 

 I will suppose you have a tool-shed, or part of 

 a barn, therefore, at your disposal. Of course a 

 good and reliable stove must be fixed ; that is a 

 prime essential. This is how I would go to work 

 in the very cheapest way. Fix in one corner, at 

 about five feet from the floor, two stout iron 

 brackets. Procure a cask ; a molasses cask will 

 do. Have the head knocked in, and the inside 

 thoroughly cleansed with boiling water, and after 

 that deepl}' charred ; the charcoal thus' formed 

 clears the water of impurity. The charring is 

 done with hot embers from the stove. Set the 

 barrel upon your brackets securely, and be sure 

 they are strong enough to bear the weight of the 

 water. You have thus your water receptacle, 

 which will, of course, require refilling as it empties 

 (Fig. 79). Now, before going farther, just let me 

 make two or three remarks on this important sub- 

 ject of water supply. Of course, when advising 

 the purchase and fixing of a barrel, I am suppos- 

 ing that no house-tank is accessible, and that my 

 reader depends upon an artificial supply. Of 



