HISTORY OF DECOYS. | ||
Brought forward Pd. for netts ... ... ... ... ... ... ... Pd. for 200 bolts of reed and carridge ... ... ... Pd. for rope yearn ... ... ... ... ... ... Pd. for makeing ye well and arch, and new pump, and materials for ye mill ... ... ... ... ... 1721 Totall ... ... ... ... 1713 Totall ... ... ... ... In all ... ... ... | 111 12 0 4 15 0 2 16 0 1 0 0 10 0 0 | |
| The Decoy was completed and ready for use by September, 1714; and on the 3rd of that month the result of the first day's take by "Jos. Woodwards Duckoyman" is set down as, duck 8, teal 4, and "wiggin" 54-in all 66 birds. The Decoy season the first year lasted from September to January inclusive, during which period there were captured 675 ducks, 338 teal, 46 "pyntail," and 6,286 "wiggin "-in all 7,345 birds in the following proportions:- | ||
Ducks. Teal. Pyntail. Wiggin. September ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 39 ... ... 81 ... ... 9 ... ... 3907 October ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 26 ... ... 10 ... ... 1 ... ... 1899 November... ... ... ... ... ... ... 185 ... ... 92 ... ... 3 ... ... 244 December ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 219 ... ... 103 ... ... 13 ... ... 153 January ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 206 ... ... 52 ... ... 20 ... ... 83 675 338 46 6286 |
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| Then follows the entry, "Sold to Mr. Neptune this years whild fowll at 9s 6d per doz"-£150. From this, however, it would seem that only dozen, or 3,552 birds, to 317 dozen, or 3,804 birds were sold, leaving 296 be accounted for. Had the owner sold all the birds taken at 9S. 6d. per dozen, he might have paid the cost of constructing the Decoy out of the first year's proceeds, and had a balance in hand of £i 15. This shows what a profitable source of income in those days a Decoy was when properly managed. At the present day probably (could the same number of fowl be captured), the money value would be five times greater. On glancing at the table last given, several points of interest are sugested. In the first place, it appears that, as now, by far the larger number of I taken in Essex at that date were Wigeon. In the next place, it seems the great body of these birds arrived in autumn before the cold had set in, and that after November comparatively few were taken. | ||
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