56 Flow to obtain tt. 
Care should be taken to note the highest flood level of the 
water, and to have the stream banked at the points F and d and 
along DD, so that no flood can possibly cause an overflow into 
the pond. This is a matter of the utmost importance, and one 
which I find is often overlooked, or for which sufficient provision 
is not made. The highest point reached by the greatest flood 
ever known should be ascertained, and the bank raised above that 
level. I have been surprised to find how careless or thoughtless 
‘many people are in guarding against floods, or in having ponds or 
artificial hatching beds in such a position that they are in great 
danger of being washed away. They may work well for one year, 
or two or three, when, owing to a combination of circumstances, 
an unusually heavy flood occurs and disaster is the result. I 
cannot remember a single instance that has come under my notice 
in which the danger might not easily have been avoided from the 
first. So there is no excuse for newly-constructed fish ponds 
being flooded. 
In guarding the ponds against floods, it will be seen ata 
glance that another great point is gained, and that is, that the 
spawning ground is also protected. There is no longer any fear 
of the eggs being washed away, nor yet buried hopelessly, as they 
often are in our natural streams when the floods come down. 
By placing the leaf screen high enough up-stream, that is, some 
distance from the head of the pond, very good provision may be 
made for the fish depositing their ova in artificial spawning beds, 
where the eggs can be protected from at least some of their enemies. 
When the early fish have spawned, a grating or screen may be 
placed at the mouth of the stream to prevent any later fish 
coming into the beds, and rooting up the earlier and more 
valuable eggs which ‘have already been deposited. This is a 
matter which has been grievously neglected in our streams and 
rivers, and which ought to have immediate attention bestowed 
upon it. I have seen whole beds of valuable ova turned up and 
the eggs devoured, and a lot left in their places which are not 
only of far less value, but are calculated, as time goes on, 
seriously to depreciate the stock in the stream. In the case of a 
salmon river it is a serious matter. 
Where there is room at the head of a pond or a lake for the 
