CHAPTER XV. ' 
THE PROPAGATING BED. 
Having now had a general view of the ponds, the reader’s 
attention is directed to a detailed study of them, each one separately, 
the method of their construction, and the reason why they differ 
from one another; for, being made each with a specific purpose to 
serve, they of course must be built with that object in view. 
The spawning-pond, or ‘‘propagating bed,” is situated at that 
end of the rearing-pond where the water makes its entrance. Itisa 
division consisting of a board frame eighteen (18) inches in depth 
and four (4) feet wide by eight (8) feet long, fashioned very much 
like the frame of a gardener’s hot-bed. This frame, when ready, is 
to be sunk about two inches into the soil composing the bottom of the 
pond, and very accurately at that; for if this precaution is not taken, 
the fish are very apt to escape from the pond through any aperture 
that may be left. The upper edge of the frame should be not less 
than six inches above the usual level of the water, thus preventing 
the danger of overflow. In the side facing the supply drain, about 
two inches above the water level, and in the other forming the 
division of the rearing-pond, about one inch Jde/ow this level, small 
openings for the entrance and exit of the water are cut and care- 
fully covered with galvanized iron-wire gauze, of about eight meshes 
to the inch. 
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