THE BOOK OF DUCK DECOYS. | The Winterton Decoy was held famous among its fellows as the one constructed by old George Skelton, when he first migrated to Norfolk from the Friskney Decoy in Lincolnshire. The Winterton Decoy was much derided by the Norfolk Decoymen on account of its small size (2 acres), compared to the extensive broads then used as Decoys by them. A derision, however, soon turned to wonder and envy on its becoming known that " Old Skelton " had succeeded in catching in his "two acre puddle," as it was termed, 1,100 Teal in a week. Hemsby, 1½ miles SW. of Hemsby, and at the northern end of Ormsby Broad, may be seen the remains of an old Decoy, with 5 Pipes, long disused. It belonged to a Mr. Waters, whose son informed Mr. Southwell that it was worked by his father, and that large catches were often made, but that it had not been used since the commencement of the present century. Woodbastwick, 5½ miles NW. of Acle.-There is a small broad in this parish, on the River Bure, known as the "Decoy Pond," which evidently derived its name from the Decoy which formerly existed there, the remains of the pipes being still visible. From inquiries, however, made on the spot, it would appear that it has not been used since the beginning of the present century. Ranworth 4½ miles NW. of Acle.-This Decoy, a very famous one years ago, was attached to the NW. end of Ranworth Broad, and was last worked by its late proprietor, Mr. John Kerrison, about 1869. No regular account was kept of the results, but from some memoranda in possession of the owner's family (which Mr. Southwell was allowed to see) it appears that the annual take was from 900 to 1,000 fowl, of which by far the largest number were common wild ducks. The actual figures for the season 1864-5 were: Duck 877, Teal 70, Wigeon 8, Shovellers 3, Pintail 1, Tufted Duck 1 and Goosander 1 ; total 961. The Decoyman, formerly in Mr. Kerrison's service, informed Mr. Southwell that when the American pond weed, Anacharis alsinastrum, abounded in the district, the ducks evinced such partiality for it, that he had great difficulty in enticing them up the pipes. Of those pipes there were ten, the broad containing some 60 acres of water. It was at the Ranworth Decoy that the late Rev. Richard Lubbock made the practical observations which enabled him to write the interesting chapter on this subject in his "Fauna of Norfolk, "perhaps the first really reliable account of a Decoy, based on actual experience, which had up to that time been published. The date of its construction is unknown. |
Index List of Illustrations