New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-03-29
THE VALUE OF A POND.
an English Writer Shoes What
MAJ Easily Be Done 1Cith It,

II people only knew what valuable possession
sheet OF water Is they would not let such places
run 70 waste. There is much profit to Dc
made out or an acre OF land as can be got from an
acre Of water. when properly treated This was
understood centuries ago when hsh had 70 be eaten
on fast days. and there were FISH trains running
from the coast supply the inland towns and VII
lagos. The monasteries set the example with their
elaborate stew ponds and fish breeding arrange
ments and ponds and stream all over the country
utilized for preserving hsh. In time we
put the streams 20 a very different by turning
into them drains or sewage and manufacturing
refuse; and the rivers which once sWsrmed with
salmon and trout now flow mass OF corruption
and putrefaction into the sea. communicating the
oyster beds with typhOidal germs.
Acts OF Parliament TO have very little effect
IN reforming the present condition OF things. which
naturally worse IN tho manufacturing districts
than IN other parts OF England. No one. FOR IN
stance, can go near the river Don. below the towns
of Sheffield and Rotterdam. without smelling the
river quite mile or. and the sight OF It's black
and fetid waters makes It impossible believe that
within the memory OF man salmon and trout were
freely caught in them with the ~ and worm
The smaller streams which run into the Don not
IN much better state. for they mostly polluted
by Ochre water from the neighborng pits, which Is
utterly destructive FISH life. All this cOntam-
nation has naturally affected the purity Of the
drinking water and the surrounding villages within
a radius OF twenty miles from Sheffield now
mostly supplied by the corporation OF that city
from their huge reservoirs up in the Pennine range
or hills.
II is OF these reservoirs wish TO speak. and other
smaller sheets OF water. such ponds and old
quarry holes, and even marshy grounds. These
the places where hsh be cultivated and
reared with very favorable results, and with slight
outlay and expense. Private waters for the most
part are allowed to take their chance; and though
they may have coarse fish IN quantity these for
eating and marketable purposes OF value
How easily all this might be altered and recthed
is not sufficiently known: and quite irrespective OF
sport from the anglers point OF view valuable re-
suits VIII follow from the cultivation OF the better
class Of Ash There are certain kinds OF trout
which do well IN ponds, notably the Lochleven and
rainbow varieties: but, or course. very much VIII
depend upon the quality OF the water and the
amount OF feed IN the form OF insect life, shelnsh,
caddis worms etc. These may be artihciaIly Guilt
waited II they not naturally Indigenous 70 the
water.
As an instance OF the rapid growth OF FISH IN suit
able water, I have known OF a yearIing rainbow
being put into q reservoir In April. and taken out
in October the year weighing a pound. The
rainbow fish, however. Is not suitable for stocking
all waters II Will not thrive where the water IS
shallow and it has habit Of getting out. II It can.
up down stream, and disappearing. II IS partiCu-
larv successful in deep reservoirs: and though Ike
all trout, when Il gets four five pounds
weight # rarely rises the ny except IN the
ing. II may be taken by other lures. The LOCheveU
for general purposes win be found easiest
to manage; and s they naturally lake fish
they rise 70 the ny more freely than the brown
trout-i in confinement
large sheet OF water like reservoir OF perhaps hfty
~ 80 80, ne - 49, % sISbt 166r,y6s
in weight. and perhaps more, and become ruthless
three pounds have the same propensity; but they
do rise TO the ny In the late evening and are taken
consequence is that II you stock the reservoir with
nous losses Of young fish and act ACCORDINGLY.
small pond may be run of or dragged periodically
a0Tf ha lar ab he
acre 6aa an advantaSe over the owner Of a big
Teservoirl for he can Setter manage his fishery
All that has 70 be done IS 10 breed the hsh, which
is a very simple matter both as regards cost and
trouble The price OF small Matching tank and
one thousand eyed oya from the solWay FlsnsTy,
tank has to be placed under tap OF water, which
loved to run Tor about six weeks or perhaps little
longer The alevins wiz then disappear. each one
ing the food necessary TO support life for several
weeks. The, sac will gradually disappear and
but this is difficult and complicated affair II Is
taking care that the temperature Of the water or
pond will now contain one thousand I0chIeyen
trout and IL there are no enemLes-such as pike,
ASH should be a bound in weight; and taking the
thousand pounds Weight for the market and very
tagss and sixpence In cases where stream runs
into pond capable OF holding trout OF course. TIE
apply only to those waters which have not got this
have bred trout for many years, and always
with success excepting in the case Of rainooWs.
trout and they require to be carefully watched. as
II the weather turns hot they are apt 70 die IN me
curing the Lochleven ova IS February and in con
sequence no risk with the heat is likely to occur;
but this is not the case Two months later with me
rainbOws have found 1t best 10 purchase the
rainbow fry direct from the fish breeding establish
ment. for they travel we'll by railway, and the
extra expense Is not very much There are Two
Wrys q eIs jITa s1reaS Rem mon ~ rrasI oT
an oil Grill ne AT r ar ~ n
as the eggs can be more easily dealt Win ana none
go bad and get hidden in the gravel and so con
every day and any faulty ones removed
There is no reason Why Beq}PP 6t VINO 6 Gn sn
net or better sun. with rod and line was
Poland that carp the FISH he ate, and that he
cIude he never attempted catch them with proper
angling materials, for carp IS a very difficult hsh
One Of the pTtacPal difficulties about out nsh man
ageme1t lies in keeping under control the weeds ana
among water lilies and bulrushes. and it is very
the pond completely cleaned out II this is not done
the only way is have the weeds cut when they
vors are generally troubled with such CROWNS,
and this makes them excellent places TO hsh WREN
who own these sheets of water are in many cases
avese to their being utilized for sport and they
have some reason for their objection. The ratepay
ers naturally consider that they have claim upon
admitted, would become source Of consie--
OF hshermen 10 traEaple the banks or sheet or
water without doing damage, not 20 speak or the
with worms ana mdeSotS- II IcketS Tor HsA4Ls
could be limited, and only the ny allowed 70 De-
@ 5,+ - -, ne III 60 MI ~ SIrS S{ h
this that during July and August the fish cannot
and the capture OF these canntDals Is a most I'M
portant point for it means the preservation Of in