(ay) 
The fymptom of mortality to your fifh in time of froft, is, 
their fhewing themfelves; which,if you perceive in the leatft, 
conclude all are going; and without a thaw, that water will 
not keep them alive. For it is the nature of fifth in cold 
weather to lie as clofe and deep as they can; fo that nothing 
but the pangs of death fhall make them move. If no holes 
are broke, they will rife and ftick to the ice, and be frozen to. 
it; if there be holes, they will move about them, as if they 
came up for frefh air. 
When the froft hath continued long, and hard, that you 
begin to fufpect your fifh, you may make a trial by cutting 
holes in feveral places, fome in the middle, and fome by the 
fides of the waters that are obnoxious; that is, after about 
ten days freezing ; and by the appearing of the fifh, or not, 
you fhall difcover the temper and condition they are in; there- 
fore watch them diligently. If they are not well, they will 
appear; then prepare all hands to take out every fifth, as near 
as you can; for what you take out, you may preferve, and all 
that are left behind, are probably loft. 
Many ufe to break holes to relieve the fifth, and, as they 
think, give them frefh air; fome have put dung bound up 
together into the holes, as if the warmth of that keeping the 
hole open would preferve the fifh; but thefe ways, and all 
others that I have heard of, except taking out the fifh, are 
mere vanities. I have cut many holes, and large ones, and 
employed men to take out the ice, and keep them open, but 
tonoadvantage. One thing appeared very oddly to me, when 
I took that courfe. Many of the fifth in a large moat had 
gathered 
