HISTORY OF DECOYS. | |
| Within the last fourteen years over 2,000 ducks have been taken at each end in one season, but lately the average has not been 1,000; in 1877-78 the take was very small. Success depends entirely upon the season and weather. Large numbers have been captured in November and March, but January and February are, as a rule, the best months. About 1820 Colonel Leathes' Decoy used to pay £300 per annum, after deducting all expenses. Duck and Mallard formed the largest portion of the fowl; then, in order, Wigeon, Teal, Pintails and now and then a few Pochards; Shovellers rarely of late, a few Goosanders and a Gadwall or two. The proportion of the sexes seemed pretty even, but sometimes, though rarely, Mallards were taken without Ducks. There can be no doubt, says Colonel Leathes, that railways, threshing machines, and drainage, have greatly decreased the numbers of fowl of late years ; but the great evil has been the flight shooting up to the very banks of the Decoy. In Colonel Leathes' Decoy, or, properly speaking, his end of the lake, all the pipes being on its south side they cannot work with a northerly wind; which is a great disadvantage. The practice has been to work this Decoy about sunrise and sunset; but often on a moonlight night (especially when the Ducks had been well fed, and did not go on flight in consequence) a great number of birds have been taken, and old John Fisk used to say there was no time better than quiet moonlight nights. There is a portrait of a large Newfoundland dog at Fritton Hall, painted by Cooper, with the Decoy as a background, which many years ago was a celebrated Decoy dog; but generally a small dog is used, with the occasional addition of a red handkerchief round its neck. Ferrets are hereabouts by some esteemed even more than dogs, but being short-lived, they die almost as soon as they have completed their training. At the Ashby, or eastern, end of the lake, opposite to Colonel Leathes', Sir Savile Crossley, Bart., works four pipes. There is nothing known as to the date of the construction of his group of pipes, which doubtless are as old as those belonging to Colonel Leathes. The fowl taken are likewise Duck, Teal, Wigeon, Pintail and Shoveller (the latter rarely); Pochards are seen in great numbers, but they are rarely caught. The best months are November and December for Duck ; March for Teal and wigeon. | |
Index List of Illustrations