Page 187 HISTORY OF DECOYS.

HISTORY OF DECOYS.

Numerous bog plants and mosses are to be found on the moor; but, through the cutting of drains and ditches, many of these are gradually becoming extinct. The Drosera, Sundews, the Ericæ Heaths, the Andromeda Melampyrum, or Cow Wheat, and Myrica Gale, are abundant, as are various Carices, but not the Osmunda. This moor is being gradually reclaimed by the process of warping and other means, and from the peat, charcoal is now extensively manufactured and sold for agricultural purposes. New Zealand.-In 1880 the late Mr. Durham, who owned a large part of Theme Waste, partly constructed a small Decoy on a portion of the moor known as " New Zealand," near Thorne. It was made on the plan of the Decoy at Ashby, but was never properly worked, and is now out of order. Goole Old Decoy.-A Decoy that has not been worked since the early years of the present century, existed near the south bank of the Dutch River, near its junction with the Humber at Goole, 6 miles NNE. of Thorne, on a large extent of marsh, in those days known as Greenland. A farm, called the Decoy Farm, still marks its position ; and a house close by the latter, at one time an inn, had for its sign " The Dog and Duck "-a name possibly suggested by the vicinity of the Decoy. Some few years back the shape of this Decoy was easily to be traced, but it is now grown up and lost to view. Goole New Decoy.-Another Decoy 4 miles west of the latter is shown on several old maps the Author has examined, also on the south bank of the Dutch River. Being marked new Decoy it is probable it was either started in rivalry of the last mentioned, or else to take its place on Goole, soon after the commencement of the present century, increasing in size from a hamlet to a busy town. Birdsall.-The site of a Decoy is shown on old maps at Birdsall, near North Grimston, 6 miles SSE. of Malton. This was not a pipe Decoy. It was near Birdsall House, the seat of Lord Middleton, to whom the estate belongs, and who tells me it was a trap or cage Decoy (see page 71), and that it has long since been discontinued and is now nearly silted up.