THE BOOK OF DUCK DECOYS. | ||
| "The law condemns the man or woman Who steals the goose from off the common, But lets the greater felon loose, Who steals the common from the goose!' |
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| "Dugdale very ingeniously argues, with regard to the dreaded scarcity of fowl, that when the country is drained there will be an increase in the number of 'rivers, chanels, and meres,' which form the principal resorts of the fowl, and their numbers will probably be augmented in consequence; also, that the fish and fowl will be more easily taken within the restricted bounds than in the more open water; added to which, the decoys planted on the drained lands would capture a much larger number of fowl than could be secured by any other means formerly used. We fear that all these arguments would be insufficient to convince the hardy Fen-men, who lived by their nets and guns, that the latter state of things was preferable to the former. " The chief feature in the animal life found in the Fens in days gone by must have been the great abundance of birds and fishes. When William the Conqueror lay with an army before the Isle of Ely, vainly attempting to force the remnant of the English who had taken refuge in this their last stronghold to surrender, it is said, that, but one only of his soldiers succeeded in entering the isle alive. This man, Beda by name, was taken prisoner by Hereward's men, and after being treated with kindness was allowed to return to the King's camp. The account he gives to William of what he witnessed in the Isle of Ely, of the strength of its position, 'compassed about with huge waters and fens, as it were with a strong wall,' of the multitude of wild animals both in the woods and near the Fens: as also of fish found in the waters, and fowl which are bred there, or visit the Fens, especially in the winter season, must King but slight hopes of reducing the brave defenders of this natural stronghold by starvation.* Dugdale, also, quoting the register of Ramsey Abbey, after expatiating upon its strong insular position, and the beauty of its surroundings, says its waters, especially Ramsey Mere, abound with Eels and ' Pikes of an extraordinary bigness,' ' and although both fishers and fowlers cease neither day nor night to haunt it, yet is there always of fish and fowl no little store.' | ||
*"Liber Eliensis" (ed. Stewart), pp. 231, 232. | ||
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