slate, or other thin stone, setting them up edgewise, perpendicularly, and if the edges are not straight, break joints, like the slating or shingling of a roof. This thin barrier should commence at the bottom of the foundation ditch, and be carried up continuously through the embankment above the water level. Thinness and perpendicularity

are absolutely necessary, in order to allow a free settling of the embankment. It is always advisable to sod embankments on the outside.

LOCATIONS.

7;

The location of sites for carp ponds is really one of the most difficult problems in connection with the business. When practicable, the services of a hydraulic engineer should be secured. If necessary to obtain such services from a distance, neighborhoods should join and share in the expense. It will be found to pay. A careful hydraulic survey is always necessary. It does not come within the scope of this pamphlet to give instructions in hydraulic engineering. As no two sites are alike, no general instructions can be given that will cover all locations. It is an easy matter to construct on paper an ideal fishpond, and they can thus be made to look "very pretty." When it comes down to real practice, water is very obstinate; it will either overflow, or else not reach the ideal limit. After an extensive practical experience, I find that a majority of practicable carp ponds may be classed in three principal groups. The first are those which may be formed by the construction of a single embankment, as shown by Fig. 14, page 166. The second are those which may be formed by two embankments, i. e., two sides, as shown by Fig. 15, page 167 and the third, those formed by nearly or quite surrounding embankments, as shown by Fig. 16, page 168. These groups represent actual ponds partly or fully constructed, and generally already stocked with carp. They are, therefore, in nowise ideal. Ponds substantially as represented by Fig. 14 have been planned by the author for Hon. William Parry, Parry P. O., Burlington county, New Jersey; George Hamel, Esq., Weldon, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania; Lorenzo D. Zimmerman, Centre Square, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania; Samuel Wilkins, Esq., 329 Market street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Hon. William A. Wood, Pittsgrove, Salem county, New Jersey; George W. Hill, Esq., Clayton, Delaware, and a number of other gentlemen in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Ponds substantially as shown by Fig. 15, have been also planned for Robert U. Jacob, Esq., Lewistown, Mifflin county, Pennsylvania; Edwin Tomlinson, Esq., Byberry, Philadelphia county, Pennsylvania; Charles P. Atkinson, M. D., Palatine, Salem county, New Jersey, and several other gentlemen in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Ponds on the plan substantially of those in Fig. 16, have been planned for

M

Banner Thomas, Esq., 117 Market street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Joseph Pyle, Esq., West Grove, Chester county, Pennsylvania; Joseph C. Hinchman, Esq., Medford, Burlington county, New Jersey, and a number of others in both States named.*

The class of ponds represented by Fig. 14, must be located with much caution, and only at the extreme heads of valleys where the water-shed is very limited, otherwise they are liable to overflow during heavy rains, thereby cutting away the banks and washing out the fish. If there is any danger from such a contingency, it is advisable to adopt the plan represented by Fig. 15, as the flow of water can thereby be fully controlled. The illustration fully explains their construction. The letter I indicates inlets, the letter outlets. It will be perceived that the outlets are located in three different ways, viz., at the side, at the end and at the corner., When practicable, I prefer a corner outlet, principally because it admits of the collector (Fig. 13) being built across the corner of the pond. Where the ordinary flow of the water in the stream is all required for a sufficient supply, it is necessary to discharge from one pond to the other as shown by the outlet of the middle pond, but when the supply is ample, it is advisable to have independent inlets and outlets for each pond, in order that either may be emptied or filled at pleasure. In case there is danger of surface water coming into ponds of either class, it must be turned away by means of a ditch and conducted around the ponds. The third class of ponds, and one that will be likely to be extensively constructed in comparatively level regions, is that shown by Fig. 16. But few persons believed it possible to construct ponds upon the site here shown, nor was its feasibility determined until a careful hydraulic survey had been made. In carrying out the details of construction, the levels have been maintained to the fraction of an inch. The site occupied by the ponds was nearly level, with a very gradual slope to the south, there being a decided rise to the northward and eastward from the outer line of embankments as shown. The sites A and B contain numerous small springs. The southerly and westerly portions of site D contain copious springs. All the land shown south of A and

*The names and addresses of the foregoing persons are given, for the reason that a reputable (but not well-informed) paper, published in the suburbs of Philadelphia and much quoted, denounces systematic carp culture as a humbug. Persons, desiring information from any of these gentlemen, can probably obtain the same by writing and enclosing stamp for reply. I am not certain that Mr. Jacob has, at this writing, finished his ponds.

B, including C, was dry and in wheat stubble. The southerly embankment of A and B is a farm road. All the embankments, except the northeast and east embankments of pond D, were along the line of ditches. Each of the ponds can be filled or emptied independently. The water from A and B can be run into either Cor D, or divided between them. A is the batching pond; B the nursery pond, and C and D stock ponds. On account of its site being clear, pond C was first constructed, and was stocked with a few carp, tiny little fingerlings, on the evening of December 31st, 1881. On the 1st of May, 1882, their growth had just commenced. About the last of October, when barely fifteen months old, they were removed to pond D. The smallest were seventeen inches long, the largest twentytwo inches long, and weighed seven pounds each. Such a growth would have been impossible but for the peculiar construction of the sluices which raise the temperature of the water in summer from ten to twenty degrees. Per contra, they also lower the temperature in winter, thereby increasing the value of the ponds for ice, without in any wise interfering with the carp, which are then in the mud. The embankments of this set of ponds are extra heavy, being eight feet wide on top, admitting of the driving of a carriage around all the ponds.

Most sites for ponds, like these, will probably be on entirely dry land,often on that which has been cultivated. Ponds prepared in dry locations have the advantage of being free from other fish, lizards, water snakes, &c., all of which are enemies of the fish culturist. Ponds in such locations can be finished and surrounded with fine screen-wire or tight board fences three or four feet high, and thus secured against the intrusion of the enemies named, and such additional ones as eels, (which will scale a bank of dry earth and destroy large quantities of young fish in confined enclosures,) turtles, rats, minks, ducks, and geese, all of which are destructive of fish. Even hens will catch large numbers of them. One of the worst enemies to be found in some States is probably the snapping-turtle. These can be readily caught with large hooks, baited with fresh meat. The hook should be attached to brass or copper wire, as the turtle will bite off an ordinary fishing-line. If ponds are located so as to be infested by kingfishers, herons, &c., they must be shot or trapped. Kingfishers can be killed by anchoring a piece of mud-colored board two or three inches beneath the surface of the water and fastening a fish on top of