Field ponds 't Aanwijs - Beernem

Field ponds were typical of the area in the past. The pointer wells , with their irregular shape, are probably the result of the extraction of fieldstone for the paving of the road from Beernem to the reform school in Sint-Pietersveld.

They were artificially created for the breeding of carp . This started as early as the second half of the 13th century in view of the increasing need for food by the growing population. But the church regulations that prohibited the eating of meat during various periods (fasting period, etc.) also encouraged the consumption of fish.

Fish farming originated in the cities , but water pollution forced the switch to the countryside. Freshwater fish and in particular carp could survive for up to a day once out of the water so that they remained fresh longer or could be transferred to other fish ponds. As a result, the consumption of sea fish was limited to the coastal region.

The heathland had little agricultural value and was therefore ideal for the construction of fish ponds. Certainly the areas where peat or field stone was already extracted were eligible.

The breeding cycle lasted three years . The first year, the female and male carp were brought together in June-July in the first pond of approximately 60 cm deep and smaller than 5 hectares. Carp only breed at a temperature above 19 degrees. The second year the small fish were transferred to the growth pond, which was 1 to 10 hectares in size and up to 1.6m deep . They grew to 1 kg. The third year they were transferred to the fat ponds, which were 10 to 100 hectares in size and deep . Here the fish grew to 2 kg and were fished for sale in October to January. This fishing was possible relatively quickly. A pond smaller than 10 hectares could be fished empty in 3 to 4 hours by 6 to 10 men.

The Ghent-Bruges Canal was put into use from 1625 . From then on, sea fish will be supplied along that route, which will immediately compete with freshwater fish.

However, with the reclamation of the heathland in the early 19th century, most of them disappeared.

Author: Willem Vandenameele