From the Middle Ages onwards, the running of the freshwater fishponds came under the control of the monastic orders and the nobles, who owned the land and the waterways. In addition, the large number of days in the year when the Catholic religion ordered people to be “lean” encouraged the consumption of fish. As with hunting, poaching was severely punished. Until the 17th century, fish farming was the main source of income for the seigneury of Villarceaux. The live fish were transported by boat to the markets in Pontoise and Paris. Even today, huge carp bask in the ponds of the estate.