seasons gnats are flying in great numbers.
In the hot days of Midsummer, when the earth is parched up, little success can be expected in any water. Nor will fish bite during cold weather, unless the evenings be warm and serene. The north and east winds are particularly unfavourable to fishing, as well as tempestuous weather in general; but, if a gentle breeze prevail, it will considerably facilitate the operations of the angler. For farther particulars relative to the proper seasons, baits, lines, hooks, &c. for taking tish, we refer the reader to Isaac Walton's Complete Angler, 8vo. 1784, where he will find ample instructions, blended with considerable amusement.
Fishing-net, a contrivance of a reticular texture, thus denominated, as it is appropriated solely to the taking of fish.
These nets are in general made by the hand; but, as that method is necessarily tedious, and inadequate to supply the demand in populous fishing ports, Mr. J. W. Boswell, of Barnstaple, Devon, in the year 1795, invented a machine for the purpose of weaving nets, for which the Society for the Encouragement of Arts, &c. in 1796, conferred on him a premium of fifty guineas. His loom is calculated to make 68 meshes at the same time, and by the same motion, with a perfectly fast knot, which does not differ from those employed by fishermen:—nets thus manufactured have a complete selvedge, and are not liable to decay from the knots becoming loose, a circumstance of considerable importance to those employed in the fisheries. We regret that Mr. Boswell's ingenious machine is too complicated to give the reader a competent idea of its mechanism, without illustrating it by an engraving; and, as few persons in domestic life will attempt to make their own fishing-nets, we refer the curious reader to the 14th vol. of the Transactions of the Patriotic Society above mentioned, where he will find an ample description, together with a plate explaining the whole of the machinery.
FISH-PONDS, are those reservoirs made for the breeding and rearing of fish. They are considered to be no small improvement of watery and boggy lands, many of which can be appropriated to no other purpose. In making a pond, its head should be at the lowest part of the ground, that the trench of the flood-gate, or sluice, having a good fall, may, when necessary, speedily discharge the water. The best method of securing the work, is to drive in two or three rows of stakes, at least six feet long, at a distance of about four feet, extending to the whole length of the pond-head, the first row of which should be rammed not less than four feet deep. If the bottom be false, the foundation may be laid with quick-lime; which, slaking, will make it as hard as a stone. Some persons place a layer of lime, and another of earth dug out of the pond, among the piles and stakes; and, when these are well covered, drive in others as occasion may require, and ram in the earth as before, till the pond-head be of the height designed.
The dam should be made sloping on each side, and a waste left to carry off the superabundant water in case of floods or rains; the depth of the pond need not exceed six feet, rising gradually in shoals
