Maison rustique, or The countrey farme· Compyled in the French tongue by Charles Steuens, and Iohn Liebault, Doctors of Physicke. And translated into English by Richard Surflet, practitioner in physicke. Now newly reuiewed, corrected, and augmented, with diuers large additions, out of the works of Serres his Agriculture, Vinet his Maison champestre, French. Albyterio in Spanish, Grilli in Italian; and other authors. And the husbandrie of France, Italie, and Spaine, reconciled and made to agree with ours here in England: by Geruase Markham. The whole contents are in the page following

CHAP. XIIII.

That Fish-pooles must be looked vnto, and the sides thereof repayred.

BVt and if you mind to reap any profit by your fish-pooles or fish ditches, you must haue care to lay them drie euerie sixe yeare at the least, and to dresse them euerie three yeare taking away the reedes, bulrushes, and broad leaues of vvater-lillies, and other vvater-flowers, for these hinder the Fish that they cannot sport themselues, and maketh them eat muddily, and of a bad taste. You must likewise chase and driue away vvater-rats, or else take them vvith some engine: as also the Otter and Beauer, as mightie spoylers of the fish-pooles: These two tyrants are found in greater number in Loraine, than in our true and naturall Countrie of France. Furthermore, you must haue care that there be not much shooting in Gunnes at the vvild-fowle which is found to haunt there∣in, because such shooting astonisheth the fish, and killeth it oftentimes. Againe, there are other meanes for the taking of such wild flesh: neither is the crosse-bow so daungerous, vvhether it be the tiller, or the bullet. It is true, that the long-bow is the most singular of all, and performeth the action of killing as wel as the Turkish bow, vvhen it is drawne lustely, and by one vvhich hath a good sight.

The greatest charges of the fish-poole is the keeping of the bankes and causey, the vvater-stops, sl••ces, and ditch ouer against the poole, made for the receiuing of th•• vvater during the time of the fishing, as also to rid it of mud and vnprofitable weeds, as being the cause that the water when it is not of any strong current, becommeth co∣uered as it were with earth: yea and though it be of a good fresh Spring, yet they are the meanes of the stopping and drying vp of those Springs, and to cause them to di∣uert and turne their courses another way: wherefore all good housholders must be furnished with yron to repaire the grates, and flints, and hard stones for the mainte∣nance of the causey.

As concerning the pondes and ditches for fishes, they must be often dressed, re∣ple••shed vvith new stores, and also refreshed with small ware: for to be alwaies taken away, and neuer adding any thing to, doth pull downe the greatest heapes of store. Againe, the good farmer is carefull and diligent alwaies in his taking of fish,

〈◊〉〈◊〉 cast the small backe againe into the water, and not to kill them out-right if he can auoid it: It is true, that for further profit and thrift, he vseth to pricke about such ditch or pond great plentie of Willowes, and some also doe plant the Aller and Elme in the same place, for to gather fire-wood of for the houshold: others againe doe plant the Aspe and Poplar-tree, and euerie one of these, according as they find their ground best disposed to beare the one or the other.

Notes

• To banish water rats.
• Not to shoot at wild••owle a∣bout fishpoo••es.
• Gunnes cause fish to ••ie.
• The raising of the sides or bankes of the fish-poole.
• Fish-ponds and fish 〈◊〉〈◊〉.