Page 40 THE BOOK OF DUCK DECOYS.

THE BOOK OF DUCK DECOYS.

    The Pond. - That is the "Decoy Pond " in other words, and on the tranquil waters of which the wild ducks first alight. They are attracted by its peaceful seclusion, as well as by the sight and call of the tame ducks that are always on it for the purpose of allurement.
    The pipes the wild ducks know nothing about, till they are enticed therein, and captured thereby.
    A Decoy pond seldom exceeds from two to four acres, the usual size being from one to two acres.
    The best size is 1 ¼ acres irrespective of pipes.
    The depth 2 ½ to 3 ft. and shelving to 2 ft. at the edges.
Sometimes Decoys (so called) consist of large lakes of 20 to 30 acres, such as at Wretham and Fritton, and was the case at Ranworth, Narford, and a few other places.
    The pipes on these large pieces of water at times answer very well, but such can scarcely be treated of as proper Decoys-rather as Decoy-pipes attached to lakes.
    The pipes in such cases are usually grouped at one end of a large piece of water, or round a sheltered bay. But these Decoys do not take anything near the same proportion of fowl to the numbers on the water that a small Decoy will do. The reason is that the birds so frequently sit out in the open far beyond the reach of the Decoyman's attractions.

    THE WATER SUPPLY of a Decoy ought to flow in and out clear of the pipes. It should nevertheless, by means of small channels and sluices, be arranged to wash down the best pipe or pipes at will.
    By the best I mean those that catch best, or that fowl frequent the locality of most, which is after all the same thing.
    The north or east pipe, or both, may have the preference of a flow of water. They are the ones most frequently choked with ice in hard weather, and in severe frost it must be borne in mind most fowl arrive in a Decoy if kept more or less free from ice. It is very necessary therefore to keep these pipes with open water in them at their entrances.
    The flow of water need only be led in at the first bend of a pipe.