THE BOOK OF DUCK DECOYS. | |
| The Morden Decoy was a famous one in its day, being admirably placed to attract wildfowl from the Poole Harbour Estuary, a large extent of water and ooze, with numerous creeks, nearly 6 miles square. The Rev. T. Pearce, well known as a sporting writer under the name of " Idstone," and who formerly rented this Decoy, tells the Author it has cleared as much as £300 in a season, which would represent fully 7,000 to 8,000 fowl, taking expenses, and birds such as Teal and Wigeon, into account. The Decoy is situated in a swampy valley, surrounded by heath. The enclosure is 4 acres, with an open pond of 1¾ acres. It has five pipes, as shown on plan, somewhat curiously planned. The Decoy en-closure is planted with bog myrtle, alder and willow, with some oak and birch. This Decoy could easily be put in working order again, and, from its position near the coast, should still do well. Charborough Park, near which this Decoy is situated, has always been held famous for the wild beauty of its surroundings, as well as for the number and variety of the game and Wildfowl that frequented it and its vicinity, equalling if not even surpassing Lord Malmesbury's estate at Heron Court, so famous in this respect. Wimbourne.-A Decoy was commenced near here by the late Mr. Coventry, of the Knoll, Wimbourne, but it was never completed. | |
Index List of Illustrations