HISTORY OF DECOYS. | |
| Mr. Page states that Pochards used often to come to his Decoy, but are not liked, as they are very troublesome to catch, diving back in the pipe, and even flying past the Decoyman on his showing himself, instead of going into the tunnel net like other fowl. He prefers to keep them away. One morning, when there were a great many Pochards in the Decoy, he had a "battue," and shot more than 70. Before the end of the week he had killed over 200 of these ducks. After this, as might be expected, they did not come so often. Mr. Page states that of every 100 Wigeon taken in his Decoy, 30 are caught in January, 20 in December, 19 in February, 19 in November, 7 in October, 4 in March, and 1 in September, this being the average of ten seasons. During the same time he had the greatest number in the Decoy in January, the next most productive months being February, December, November, October, March and September, in the order named. In one year he had four Wigeon in the Decoy in August; in other seasons none have arrived until October. This is one of the oldest Decoys now existing in the county of Essex, the land on which it stands having been reclaimed some 200 years ago, at which time the Decoy was doubtless constructed. Mr. R. Page became tenant of the Decoy in 1865, since which time he has regularly worked it. The average yearly catch from 1859-60 to 1864-5 was about 3,500; since that date, when Mr. R. Page became the tenant, it has been 2,500 fowl a year, and within the last few seasons the take has fallen to as low as 2,000 a year, so that the Decoy does not now do more than pay its expenses. The large majority of birds taken by Mr. Page are Wigeon. Some of the previous owners of the Decoy to Mr R. Page, who, as above stated, commenced his tenancy in 1865, were- | |
| 1822. Mr. Hudson. 1837-51. Mr John Willes. 1851-65. Mr. Cracknell. | |
| Mr. Hudson's son, Mr. G. J. Hudson, tells me that his father once made £400 in a year by selling the fowl he caught in this Decoy, which, taking into consideration deductions for Decoyman and half-birds, would represent fully 10,000 fowl. | |
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