HISTORY OF DECOYS. | |
| These birds were taken by means of high nets affixed to poles. The Pochard were alarmed off the pond, and at the moment they quitted it, the nets and poles previously laid flat on the ground, were freed, and springing up intercepted the Pochard in their flight, which on rising was very low for some distance. The nets were placed hear the edge of the pond, and were so arranged with balance weights that on pulling a string they instantly stood upright. The pond had several such nets to suit the various directions in which the Pochard when driven flew away. At the foot of each net a deep trench was dug, from out of which the birds were unable to escape, when tumbled therein by suddenly striking the nets. Solley's Decoy, on the N. shore of the Blackwater, and ½ a mile E. of the last one described, also on the edge of the shore. This pool, a large one with eight pipes, formerly belonged to a Mr Solley; it is known also as the "Wigeon Pond." It is opposite the Decoy last mentioned, but across the creek running up to Joyce's Farm, from which it is distant (S.) ½ mile, and is a mile SSE. of Goldhanger It has not been in use for twenty years. Gore Decoy, on the N. shore of the Blackwater, and under ½ a mile E. of Solley's Decoy, is another, known as the Tollesbury Gore Decoy; it is situated close to and W. of the Gore Saltings, from which it derives its name, and close to the sea. It is ½ a mile SE. of Hervey's Farm and Joyce's Farm, and 1½ miles SE. of Goldhanger Though worked in present memory, it has not been in use for many years. Skinner's Wick, or Whitehouse Decoy, on the N. shore of the Black-water, a pool that derives its name from being near two farms so called. The Decoy is within a hundred paces of the shore and opposite to the Gore Decoy, across the creek in which are the Gore Saltings. It had eight pipes and is ½ a mile S. of Skinner's Wick Farm House. It is in Tollesbury parish, and is 2 miles SW. of Tollesbury and 1 mile S. of Tolleshunt D'Arcy. This was formerly a very successful Decoy, but was given up some thirty years ago. | |
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