How to obtain it. 73 
embankment stood, but it was a narrow escape, and I have 
thought it well to mention it here as a preventive of similar 
occurrences in the future. 
The question, as to which is the best kind of bottom outlet 
for a large reservoir, will soon be settled by the engineer, who 
should consult a fish culturist before deciding on so important 
a matter. I will simply describe one which I designed some 
thirty or more years ago, and which has in all cases worked 
perfectly, and is now in use in most of my own ponds. Where 
they are small it should be made of wood well charred. It is a 
very simple contrivance both in construction and manipulation, 
and consists of a wooden box about two or two and a half feet 
square, and half a foot or so deeper than the deepest part of the 
pond. Suppose this depth to be seven feet to the bottom of the 
outlet pipe, then the box should be made, say, thirty inches by 
thirty inches by seven and a half. feet. It should be let into the 
embankment if practicable, but if, owing to the formation of the 
bank, it be a few feet out into the pond it does not really matter, 
except that it will require stays to keep it firm, and a gangway 
plank to connect it with the shore. 
Now for the box itself. It will be seen at once that it is not 
the shape of an ordinary box, but may be described as long and 
narrow. There is also a little peculiarity about its make. Let us 
imagine it for a moment standing on one end, which we will call 
the bottom, and which should be very securely fixed on. It 
stands seven and a half feet high, and has four sides, one of which 
we will call the “back.” This is to be placed nearest to the bank, 
and a round hole should be cut in this ‘‘ back ” as near to the bottom 
as practicable. This round hole should be just large enough to 
allow the end of the outlet pipe to enter and project a little way 
into the interior of the box. So much for the “back.” The side 
opposite to it we will call the “front,” and the others simply the 
two “sides.” There is nothing special to observe about the two 
“sides” except that, like the “back,” they are to be firmly put 
together. A good square corner piece or batten in each of the 
four corners is a great help to the whole construction, and, in any 
case, one must be fixed in each of the corners towards the front, 
to which we will now turn our attention. It faces the pond, and 
