The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1873-09-20
Ghe Sarmer.


Many Of our farmers have brooks Of
more or less volume flowing through their
lands, which may be utilized in making
ponds for fishes as live naturally ia water
Of ordinary brook or creek temperature,
while others have good springs, which may
be turned to profit in raising trout. AS
the two facilities alluded to are quite diff
erent, it will be necessary to treat of them
and the fish suitable for each separately,
and as there are likely more persons having
brooks on their premises than those who
own good springs, | shall endeavor to show
how the former may be turned to advant-
age.
The size Of pond should, Of course,
depend on the volume Of water intended
to feed it. With four-inch pipe, run
ming full, one may have pond Of half an
acre, with six-inch pipe, one acre or
more As before intimated, l have refer
ence now to ordinary brook or creek water,
and the varieties of fish not including
trout, which require colder water. In such
pond, fresh water bass, sun fish, suckers,
gold fish, clubs, and the homely but ex-
eellent cat fish can be multiplied by proper
care, and afford the farmer and his child
rem sport, as well as palatable and whole
some food.
A pond may be fed by the entire brook,
or lead may be used to obtain the de-
sired supply from larger stream. If a
pond is made by building the dam across
the natural course, which is generally in u
hollow, where it is subject to freshets, one
may have it torn out, or his fish washed
over. 1t is therefore desirable, when the
lay Of the land win allow Of it, to turn the
course partially, or wholly, as the case may
be, and lead the stream TO a site where
high water will not affect it, and allowing
the surplus water, in heavy rains, to fol-
low the old bed of the brook. This can
easily be done by throwing a small dam
across the stream or placing tank and
having water-gate, which will allow only
the ordinary volume Of the brook to enter
the lead.
The pond should be of unequal depth
throughout--in some places four or FIVE
feet, in others shallow, particularly on the
margin. 1t is desirable that the bottom
in some parts should be of pebbles or small
stones for suitable breeding places for bass
and sun fish, and that an abundant variety
Of aquatic plants should be introduced.
The object Of encouraging the growth Of
plants is two or even threefold. They sup
ply oxygen to the water, keeping it pure.
Innumerable flies and insects deposit their
eggs on them, which in time become Larvae
small worms), and minute molluses and
fresh water crustam harbor in them, all Of
which are food for fish. Besides this, they
are place Of refuge for the young fish
from the large predatory fishes. Il win
also be well to stock the pond well with
small, worthless species, as minnows, stone
fish, sinners, or roach, ETC., as food fer the
bass and sun FISH. Pike, BY all means,
should be excluded, for they feed almost
entirely an other fish, while the food Of
bass consists much Of the food already
mentioned as being found on water plants.
The harm which musk-rats are SO apt
to work to a pond may be obviated by sim
ply enclosing it with pail fence, the ends
Of pickets entering the ground three or
four inches, and being close enough to ex-
clude these mischievous animals. Musk
rats always commence their holes UNDER
the water and extend them into the bank,
and, as il is their nature not to burrow in
any other way, with this inexpensive pre-
caution one need feel no apprehension Of
an inroad from them.
The eggs Of any Of the fish mentioned
for such pond cannot be obtained BY
manipulating the parent fish, as is done
with trout they, therefore, cannot be pur-
chased, but to stock the pond, brood fish
must be introduced. journal Of The Farm.
MEADuws 10 secure good timothy