13.  The Roach and Dace bite all the day long at the Top of the Water at flies natural, and Artificial, also at Grass-hoppers, and all sorts of Worms, if the Water be shady.

14.  The Gudgeon bites best in April, till she has Spawned in May, or if the Weather be cold till Wasp time, and at the end of the year all day long, near to a gentle Stream.  Observe when you Angle for her, to stir and rake the Ground, and the Bait will be taken the better.

15.  The Flounder in April bites all day, May, June, and July, especially in swift Streams, yet he will bite, tho’ not so freely in a still Deep.

Of Fish-ponds.

Grounds most fit and proper to be cast into a Pond, are those which are Marshy, or Boggy, or full of Springs, unfit for Grazing, or to be put to any profitable use besides.  Of these the last, full of Springs, will yield the best Water; that which is Marshy will feed Fish; and what is Boggy is best for a Defence against Thieves.

First draw by small Trenches all the Springs into one place, and so drain the rest of the Ground; then mark out the Head of your Pond, and make it the highest part of the ground in the Eye, tho’ it be the lowest in a Level:  Cut the Trench of your Floodgate so, that when the Water is let out, it may have a swift fall:  On each side of which Trench drive in stakes of Oak, Ash or Elm six foot long, and six Inches square; place these in Rows near four foot distance, as broad and wide from the Floodgate as you intend the Head of your Pond shall go:  Dig it in as big and large a Compass as the Ground will permit; throw your Earth amongst the said stakes, and ram it down hard till you have covered the stakes:  Drive in as many new ones next the first stakes, and ram more Earth above them, with stakes above stakes till the head-sides be of a convenient height:  Taking care, that the inside of your Banks be smooth, even, hard and strong, that the Current of the Water, may not wear off the Earth.

Having thus digged eight foot deep, that so it may carry six foot Water, pave the bottom and Banks of the Pond with Sods of Flot-Grass, laying them close together, pin them down with stakes and windings:  This Grass is a great feeder of Fish, and grows naturally under Water.  Stake to the bottom of one side of the Pond Bavens and Brush-Wood-Faggots, into which the Fish may cast their spawn.  Lay Sods upon Sods, to nourish and breed Eels.

The Pond being made, let in Water, and thus store it:  Put Carp, Bream and Tench by themselves:  Pike, Pearch, Eel, and Tench (the Fishes Physician) by themselves; for Food of the greater Fishes, put store of Roach, Dace, Loach and Menow; and Lastly to one Melter, put three Spawners, and in three Years the increase will be great, and in five Years with difficulty be destroyed.

In 3 Years Sue your Pond; which you must continue to do, for the Roach will increase in such abundance, that eating up the sweet food, will make other Fish, as Carps, &c. be very lean:  Therefore every Year view your Pond, and observe if any such Fry appears, thin them.