1224 Live Stock.—Fifh-Ponds—Profit of.

part of the ftock of ponds, care fhould however always be taken not to overftock, as where thefe forts of fifh have not an abundant fupply of food, they never anfwer well. When taken from clofe-fiocked ponds,.a larger proportion fhould likewife be employed than in other cafes.

The waters of fome ponds are better adapted to raifing fome forts of ith than others. Thus, thofe where the water is rich and white are more adapted for earp; while fuch as have a thicker appearance, and where there is a greaterdepo- fition of muddy matter, are better fuited to tench. Perch are capable of being raifed in almoft any fort of ponds. Eels fucceed befi where the ponds are not very large, but where fed by a fpring, and there is a large portion of rich fediment. Pike fhould never be kept in ponds with carp or tench, but in feparate breeding-ponds, where the fupplies of fmall fry are confiderable and not wanted for ftores.

Carp, tench and perch are the forts principally cultivated with a view to profit, with a few eels occafionally. But perch and eels fhould net be admitted where the ponds are but thinly fiocked, as they are great devourers of the young fifh.

Carp and tench anfwer beft together where the extents of the ponds are pretty large, as, in other cafes, the former, from being a much more powerful fifh, beats and deprives the latter of his food. Carp feldom afford much profit in ponds of lefs extent than half an acre; but tench thrive well in thofe of almoft any fize, being often found good in ponds of only a few perches fquare, Carp, perch, and eels fucceed well together; and alfo tenchand ecls*. Carp more frequently injure themfelves by breed- ing than tench; though it fometimes happens with the latter. It is not improbable, but that in fmall ponds it may be the beft practice to keep the carp and tench feparate.

The produce or profit afforded by fith-ponds has not yet, perhaps, been fufficiently attended to in different fituations to afford correct conclufions; nor is it well afcertained what is the annual increafe in weight in fifhof different kinds, in dif- ferent periods of their growth, and under different circumftances of foil and water. Mr. Loveden ftates, that in Berkfhire a pond of three acres and a half, drawn after being ftocked three years with ftores of one year old, produced

Of carp, 1951b. weight Oftench, 230 ditto, 425 which fold for 20]. ros, or nearly al, 6s. per acre per annum.

* Annals of Agriculture.