THE BOOK OF DUCK DECOYS. | ||
| Cowbit Decoy, in Cowbit Fen, to the east of the latter. The Decoy is a mile N. of Cowbit, and 2miles S. of Spalding, on the E. side of the River Welland. Fleet Decoy, in Fleet Fen, E. of the last. The Decoy was situated 6 miles S. of Holbeach, on the verge of the S. bank of the South Holland drain, 3 miles NE. of the hamlet of Whaplode Drove Chapel, as well as 2 milesNNW. of Sutton St. Edmunds. This Decoy was destroyed by the cutting of the South Holland drain in 1793. Travelling further north towards Sleaford, we soon get to another group of six old Decoys, all within 3 miles NE. of Dowsby, the most southern of which is the famous Dowsby Decoy. Dowsby, near Falkingham, 6 miles NE. from Bourne.-It is stated by Daniel in his 'Rural Sports' (Suppl. p. 623), that in one season there were caught in the Decoy here 1,075 dozen and eight wild ducks 12,908 birds), which on an average fetched 7s. per dozen. The Decoy has long ceased to be worked. This Decoy belonged to the Rev. Thomas Foster of Ryhall, grandfather of the present owner, who has kindly supplied the appended copy of an original document, recounting the birds taken in the season 1765-6, with details of the catches for October and March :- | ||
WILDFOWL CAUGHT IN DOWSBY DECOY FROM OCTOBER 1, 1765, TO APRIL 1,1766. | ||
13,008 Sold to Mrs. Gibbs of Langtoft, at 7s a dozen ... 11 dozen ( 132 birds )sold at decoy ... ... ... 20 couples sold to Mr. Dodd ... ... ... ... | £ s. d. 379 8 0 5 8 10 1 10 0 | |
| £386 6 10 | ||
| Total number of fowl sold, therefore, was 13,180. As Teal and Wigeon were counted as 18 to the dozen, the grand total for the year would represent at least 18,000 fowl. In this season (1765-66) there were taken in the Decoy, in the months of October and March, as follows, which is, it need scarce be pointed out, for these months wonderfully good, even for those days of abundance :- | ||
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