404 Inland Water Culture 



Some special development of the water bed would, 

 of course, be needed to fit them for an intensive water 

 culture. The one great open basin of water, now full 

 and now reduced, that is the usual thing in reservoirs, 

 would hardly suffice. But with no extraordinary 

 increase of cost the greater part of the bottom, espec- 

 ially in shoal water, might be divided into fish ponds, 

 so constructed as to be under control. By deepening 

 these considerably and using the excavated earth for 

 building strips of dry land between them, the holding 

 capacity of the reservoir might be increased. It would 

 be increased by just so much as the volume of earth 

 taken from below and placed above the high water 

 level. Then as much v-i^ater as under the present plan 

 could be drawn off for power or navigation, and the 

 residue in the pond bottom would suffice for main- 

 tenance of the fishes therein. 



On this plan, in a reservoir of 100 acres having 90 

 acres of shoal water on which fish ponds could be 

 developed, 50 acres could be permanenth^ devoted to 

 fish raising, and at least half or much more to agricul- 

 tural crops, without interfering with its efficiency for 

 water storage and regulation of stream-flow. This 

 would be much better than having it all lie fallow to the 

 end of time. It would transform a water waste into a 

 water garden. Incidentally, it would cure also the 

 unsightliness of a vast area of exposed and reeking mud 

 during the season of low water. 



The beauty of the shore-line — Another public interest 

 with which water culture must ever be identified is that 

 of preserving the beauty of the landscape. As nature 

 has given of her bounty to the waterside, so also she has 

 laAdshed her beauty there. 



AVhat fiowers adorn the shore-line! The fragrant 

 water lily, the stately lotus, the queenly iris, the bril- 



