flood-gate, or the vent that you intend shall convey the overflowings of your pond in any flood that shall endanger the breaking of the pond-dam. Then he advises, that you plant willows or owlers about it, or both and then cast in bavins in some places not far from the side, and in the most sandy places, for fish both to spawn upon, and to defend them and the young fry from the many fish, and also from vermin, that lie at watch to destroy them, especially the spawn of the Carp and Tench, when 'tis left to the mercy of ducks or vermin. He, and Dubravius, and all others advise, that you make choice of such a place for your pond, that it may be refreshed with a little rill, or with rain-water, running or falling into it; by which fish are more inclined both to breed, and are also refreshed and fed the better, and do prove to be of a much sweeter and more pleasant taste. To which end it is observed, that such pools as be large and have most gravel, and shallows where fish may sport themselves, do afford fish of the purest taste. And note, that in all pools it is best for fish to have some retiring place; as namely, hollow banks, or shelves, or roots of trees, to keep them from danger, and, when they think fit, from the extreme heat of summer; as also from the extremity of cold in winter. And note, that if many trees be growing about your pond, the leaves thereof falling into the water, make it nauseous to the fish, and the fish to be so to the eater of it. "Tis noted, that the Tench and Eel love mud: and the Carp loves gravelly ground, and in the hot months to feed on grass. You are to cleanse your pond, if you intend either profit or pleasure, once every three or four years, (especially some ponds,) and then let it lie dry six or twelve months, both to kill the water-weeds, as water-lilies, candocks, reate, and bulrushes, that breed there; and also that as these die for want of water, so grass may grow in the pond's bottom, which Carps will eat greedily in all the hot months, if the pond be clean. The letting your pond dry, and sowing oats in the bottom, is also good, for the fish feed the faster and being sometimes let dry, you may observe what kind of fish either increases or thrives best in that water; for they differ much, both in their breeding and feeding. Lebault also advises, that if your ponds be not very large and roomy, that you often feed your fish, by throwing into them chippings of bread, curds, grains, or the entrails of chickens or of any fowl or beast that you kill to feed yourselves; for these afford fish a great relief. He says, that frogs and ducks do much harm, and devour both the spawn and the young fry of all fish, especially of the Carp; and I have, besides experience, many testimonies of it. But Lebault allows water-frogs to be good meat, especially in some months, if they be fat: but you are to note, that he is a Frenchman; and we English will hardly believe him, though we know frogs are usually eaten in his country: however, he advises to destroy them and king-fishers out of your ponds. And he advises not to suffer much shooting at wild fowl; for that, he says, affrightens, and harms, and destroys the fish. Note, that Carps and Tench thrive and breed best when no other fish is put with them into the same pond; for all other fish devour their spawn, or at least the greatest part of it. And note, that clods of grass thrown into any pond feed any Carps in summer; and that garden-earth and parsley thrown into a pond recovers and refreshes the sick fish. And note, that when you store your pond, you are to put into it two or three melters for one spawner, if you put them into a breeding-pond; but if into a nurse-pond, or feeding-pond, in which they will not breed, then no care is to be taken whether there be most male or female Carps. It is observed, that the best ponds to breed Carps are those that be stony or sandy, and are warm, and free from wind; and that are not deep, but have willow-trees and grass on their sides, over which the water does sometimes flow: and note, that Carps do more usually breed in marlepits, or pits that have clean clay bottoms; or in new ponds, or ponds that lie dry a winter season, than in old ponds that be full of mud and weeds1. (1) It is observable, that the author has said very little of pondfishing; which is, in truth, a dull recreation; and to which I have heard it objected, that fish in ponds are already caught. Nevertheless, I find that in the canal at St. James's Park, which, though a large one, is yet a pond, it was, in the reign of Charles II. the practice of ladies to angle. 66 Beneath, a shole of silver fishes glides, "And plays about the gilded barges' sides; WALLER. Poem on St. James's Park, As the method of ordering fish-ponds is now very well known, and there are few books of gardening but what give some directions about it, it is hoped the reader will think the following quotation from Bowlker sufficient, by way of annotation on this chapter. 66 When you intend to stock a pool with Carp or Tench, make a "close ethering hedge, across the head of the pool, about a yard distance of the dam, and about three feet above the water; which is "the best refuge for them I know of, and the only method to preserve 66 pool-fish; because if any one attempts to rob the pool, muddies the water, or disturbs it with nets, most of the fish, if not all, immediately fly between the hedge and the dam, to preserve themselves: " and in all pools where there are such shelters and shades, the fish 66 delight to swim backwards and forwards, through and round the 66 same, rubbing and sporting themselves therewith. This hedge ought to be made chiefly of orls, and not too close; the boughs long and straggling towards the dam; by which means you may feed and "fatten them as you please. The best baits for drawing them toge"ther, at first, are, maggots, or young wasps; the next are, bullock's "brains Well, Scholar, I have told you the substance of all that either observation or discourse, or a diligent survey of Dubravius and Lebault, hath told me: not that they, in their long discourses, have not said more; but the most of the rest are so common observations, as if a man should tell a good arithmetician that twice two is four. I will therefore put an end to this discourse; and we will here sit down and rest us. 66 66 brains and lob-worms, chopped together, and thrown into the 66 pools in large quantities, about two hours before sun-set, summer and winter. By thus using these ground-baits, once a day, for a fortnight together, the fish will come as constantly and naturally to the place as cattle to their fodder; and to satisfy your curiosity, and to convince you herein, after you have baited the pool for some time, as directed, take about the quantity of a two-penny loaf of "6 wheaten bread, cut it into slices, and wet it; then throw it into the pool where you had baited, and the Carp will feed upon it: 66 after you have used the wet bread three or four mornings, then 46 throw some dry bread in, which will lie on the top of the water; and if you watch, out of sight of the fish, you will presently see 66 them swim to it, and suck it in. I look upon wheaten bread to be 66 the best food for them, though barley or oaten bread is very good. 66 If there be Tench and Pearch in the same pond, they will feed upon 66 the four former baits, and not touch the bread. Indeed there is no 66 pool-fish so shy and nice as a Carp. When the water is disturbed, 66 Carp will fly to the safest shelter they can; which I one day ob66 served, when assisting a gentleman to fish his pool; for another 66 person disturbed the water by throwing the casting-net, but 66 caught never a Carp; whereupon two or three of us stripped and 66 went into the pool, which was provided with such a sort of a hedge 66 in it as is before described, whither the Carp had fled for safety; 66 then fishing with our hands on both sides the hedge, that is, one on either side, we catched what quantity of Carp was wanting." Bowlker, p. 62. The reader may also consult a book published about the year 1712, intitled, A Discourse of Fish and Fish-ponds, by a Person of Honour ; who, I have been told by one that knew him, was the Hon. Roger North, author of the Life of the Lord Keeper Guildford. 'See before, page 201. [The first edition of this work was without a date, in octavo. It was published again in 1713 and 1715. An edition in quarto appeared about 1770, with the name of the author in the title. It is also found as an appendage to "The Gentleman Farmer," 8vo. Lond. 1726.) CHAP. XXI. Directions for making of a Line, and for the colouring of both Rod and Line. Piscator. WELL, Scholar, I have held you too long about these cadis, and smaller fish, and rivers, and fish-ponds;. and my spirits are almost spent, and so I doubt is your patience: but being we are now almost at Tottenham, where I first met you, and where we are to part, I will lose no time, but give you a little direction how to make and order your lines, and to colour the hair of which you make your lines, for that is very needful to be known of an angler; and also how to paint your rod, especially your top; for a right-grown top is a choice commodity, and should be preserved from the water soaking into it, which makes it in wet weather to be heavy and fish ill-favouredly, and not true; and also it rots quickly for want of painting: and I think a good top is worth preserving, or I had not taken care to keep a top above twenty years'. (1) The author having said nothing about choosing or making RODS in any part of his book, it was thought proper to insert the following directions. For fishing at the bottom, whether with a running-line or float, the reed or cane-rod, is, on account of its lightness and elasticity, the best, especially if you angle for those fish which bite but tenderly, as Roach and Dace. And of these there are rods that put up, and make a walking-stick. There are others in many joints, that put up together in a bag, and are therefore called bag-rods; these last are very useful to travel with, as they take but little room. Next to these is the hasel; but that is more apt to warp than the cane: these, as also excellent fly-rods, are to be had at all the fishing-tackle shops in London, and therefore need no particular description: only be careful, whenever you bespeak a rod of reed or cane, that the workman does not rasp down into the bark which grows round the joints, a fault |