Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1858-04-07
From the American Cotton Planter and Soil.
FISH PONDS.

FISH PONDS.
The following excellent hints on the subject
Of WFish Ponds" and their cheap and easy con-
struction, we clip from the Southern Planter,
publi he'd at Petersburg, Va. The importance
Of this subject, as matter of domestic econo'
nv, adapted to the wants. convenience and CO.
pacity d every planter and planters family in
tbe>planting States, applies with as much force
here as it does in Virginia. there is scarcely
planter in this whole country who may not, at
very light outlay of labor, supply his family eve.
ry day in the>year with good, home.raiSed fresh
fish. In the lime regions Of Alabama and Mis-
sissippi, where there are few springs, Artesian
wells supply the water for ish ponds just
where fancy and convenience could desire them.
What could add SO much of beauty and fresh
ness to 8 genteman's home, the amusement
of his children, as of those artificial lakes of
pure fresh wafer, aud it stocked with an abun.
dant supply Of fine, fat, home.raised tame fish!
An the Restry and romance of an Italian OF
Roman villa cloy on the Imagination ir thus
contemplating handsomely improved American
rural hone. ED.
EugPoNDs.-We desire earnestly to call the
atentDn of our readers, one and all, to the sub
7ct of fish ponds. There is no sr.isle Of food
en;ov It n ali ts e4osonoe 'aad
perfection, it is indispensable, that it should be
: cooked Immediately after it is taken out of the
water. Persons living remote from ponds and
~ivers, cannot procure supplies as promptly as is
dessable They must therefore, a they voaldl
regaleshemselyes withso great 9 dlicacS Srese5Sl
to artificial ponds or streams. tbs B'dldG6is
difficult mafees on almost everyaSe<MStinIIv
country, TSssSe is no region mA water than
supplied with snS\pgs of clear, hg sufficiently
ours. Wherever aere is a Mr, with very lit.
bold to supply fan y with <ense, pond may
tie labor and no necn @ eiary ~ them bountifully
oe constructed that 81 liHish. We speak from
eru "..n cae nicest variass Z that small pond
col eopessnce whenM sAthe fourth of an acre
covering not morst/ ~ small family, if not a
," wen stocked; MMszh of fish almost every day
lSSrge 'Srgg one, vida 1t is now customary for
I1roughout ,1I tie ner who properly appreciates
he aos. Os everk lu1uries of the table, to put up
,S ae comforts his annual supply of this article,
g. !. 10 ss ut that he should have good and
Is 6t pond for the purpose. Let him
Pernah pond supplied with few of our
we 6rieties of perch, and in couple Of years
y begin to luxuriate in both of these luxu-
ITO his hearts content. We would by no
cams limit the size of fish pond to the f5u,th
an acre. A half or even whole acre would
bt be Objectionable, as the supply of fish would
Ibf course bear proportion to the area and depth
[of the water
Our mode of constructinga pond is as follows:
After selecting suitable location, taking care
to avoid very sunny exposure, both on account
of the ice and the fish, we cut ditch from three
to four feet wide, according to the depth we need
to go to reach the clay, cutting out all the roots
carefully. When we have dug this ditch the full
length of the contemplated dam, we turn about .
and throw. the earth back into the ditch, and
build the dam Immediately over the ditch, with
dirt altogether, taking it from the upper side,
which will give more depth of water and more
security against leakeage and breakage. When )
we have raised the dam to the requisite height,
we cut waste around each end, seven or eight
feet wide, and of sufficient depth to make the !
dam secure from overflow in time of heavy floods
of rain. If the source from whence we draw
our supply of water is aoar, We deem it best to
cut head ditch, carrying it both sides of the !
pond and cmptying it some distance below the
dam. Care should be taken to keep far enough
from the pond to prevent this ditch from becom.
ing drain, in case it should wash deep, that
would let the water pass off from the pond. The 2
object OF this ditch is to carry off the muddy
water and foods that might carry off many fish
and endanger the dam. 7
When the pond is completed, we have only to
get our angling implements, 60 to the next pond f
Dr river, with bucket on our ARMAND while 0
enjoying the sport Of fishing, i'll few hours pro-
vide stock to start with. Or We may take a q
seine and barrel, and go to work in more bu.
,iness like way.
In selecting fish for the pond, VIC prefer the G.
varieties Of perch: the freckle, or silver perch. .
he black perch, the wide mouth, or Joe Dentons,
as they are called amongst US, and the yellow
perch. In fact all the varieties of perch common
o our waters are excellent for the table, afford
Inc sport to the angler, and may be caught at
almost any season Of the year. The club is not
uited to small ponds. He is very vorscisus.
oon eats out the other sorts of fish, and then
'reys upon his own progeny. We would recon.
mend to those who would like to cultivate this
ariety, to build a second pond for them below
ne hrst so that they may prey upon the small
Ism tnat escape through the wastes. The com.
non round fish Of our rivers will not breed ex.
ept IN running water, but we like to throw
ew OF them IN the pond to be taken out in win.
er' They grow quickly and do not prey upon
ne others II our springis bold one we could
ear tne mountain OF speeked trout, with entire
access between it and the head of the pond. by mi
mixing boxes at intervals in the stream. of Two
, three feet depth, and six or eight feet long M.
nd putting o few stout rocks at the bottomo'
he great difficulty, however, in regard to this
sh, Is the distance to which we must on Sor
lem. 1t is very much to be regretted that our mr.
ealthy gentlemen do not pay more attention To
airing fish. In New England we are told some
our most distinguished men have regarded tho -
lbject as well worthy of their efforts.
In some parts of France artificial ponds ara n
on a large scale, and command very ,