[$2.9 
fummer, and you may make a profit of the foil fufficiently, 
either by ploughing or feeding. And at Michaelmas next, or 
a little fooner, let fall the fluice, and turn in all the water you 
can, that the pond may fill, and at the being near full, it is 
ready to receive the ftock again. . 
At the fame time lay another. dry, proceeding as before; 
which you may do alternately during your whole life: nay, if 
you have but two great ponds, this is the beft courfe, and will 
turn moft to the profit and feed of the fifh, as I fhall thew 
when I {peak of feeding. 
If your ftock be very great, you may let your ponds ftand 
full two or three years, but not longer, unlefs you delight to 
fee ftarved lean fifh; for fuch they will certainly be, unlefs you 
keep an under-ftock by three-fourths continuing in the fame 
water four or five years. And it is a certain rule, that the 
oftener waters are laid dry, the better the feed of the fith fhall 
be, and more fhall be maintained. And a little experience 
will demonftrate the advantage to be great, as to the fize, fat- 
nefs, and fweetnefs of the fith. 
When your pond is dry, concern not yourfelf to carry out 
the mud for the firft fourteen or fifteen years; and then let 
it be only out of the pan whence you took the earth to raife 
the bank, but never break the turf of the reft of the ground 
flowed: but when it comes to be a yard thick in mere mud, 
it is good to take it out; for though mud be good to improve 
eround, yet, when it is taken from the pond, down to the 
dead earth, your ground and foil are depauperated, and the 
water by confequence, which cheats the fifh, that is, yourfelf. . 
of 
