HISTORY OF DECOYS. | |
| Particulars and directions are also given therein as to the taking of "Swans" to fatten "from my carrs of Arrom," in which carrs, by the way, the Scorborough Decoy was situated. So that if the Decoy existed in those days some reference would surely have been made to it, for its locality and the surrounding marshes then belonged to the Earl of Northumberland, especially as all the minutiæ are so carefully entered in the Book, such as the prices of the various wildfowl, and even a copy of the warrant sent to the swanherd. I make the above remarks because it is popularly supposed that the Meaux and Watton Decoys were either monastical belongings, or existed at the time of the monks, and so were contemporary with the Northumberland Household Book. | |
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| Redshanks and one or two pairs of Garganeys still breed in these carrs. Ruff, too, have been obtained several times in the breeding season about them, also Gadwall and other of our rarer Ducks. Watton.-Mr. H. W. F. Ellis of Crowle, who has made careful researches, informs me that this Decoy had an area of 1,000 acres of marsh and water round it, and was very productive, yielding at times as many as 400 ducks daily before drainage scaled its fate. The Decoy is situated 7 miles north of Beverley, between the high road from Beverley to Driffield and the River Hull, and like Scorborough Decoy, from which it is distant 4 miles in a northerly direction, it also lies in the valley of the Hull river. | |