•104 



by them or towards them, gradually discover that the nearer they 

 swim towards the mouth of a pipe the more plentiful does food 

 become. Unsuspectingly they enter the wide mouth, so wide as 

 to convey no suggestion of a trap ; and then the Decoyman's little 

 dog comes into play. Taught to dodge in and out of the reed 

 screens to fetch a piece of bread or biscuit, he shows himself 

 momentarily to the ducks in the pipe, and disappears when 

 returning to his master. Wild fowl are eminently curious, and 

 their curiosity proves fatal to them. They behave towards the 

 dog exactly as cattle would do — as long as he retreats from them 

 they follow him. Perhaps from his colour they take him for a 

 fox. their common enemy, and fancy they are driving him away. 

 At any rate they follow him up the pipe until, having passed the 

 first reed screen, they are virtually cut off from the rest of the 

 flock. At this juncture the Decoyman shows himself to the ducks 

 in the pipe, though not to those en the pool. He makes no noise, 

 but merely waves his arms, and the frightened fowl, afraid to 

 return past him to the ojaen water, instantly rise on the wing and 

 fly up the pipe, following its curve in the vain hope that it will 

 lead to freedom. Instead of that, however^ it leads to the bag 

 net. The whole business is conducted so quietly that the wild 

 fowl on the main water are never alarmed." 



The Decoyman carries a piece of burning turf to destroy the 

 human scent. 



Some distance to the south and west of the Decoy are a 

 number of curious hills, or mounds, more or less approaching to a 

 circular form, and rising abruptly from the general level of the 

 marshes to a height of probably about 10 or 12 feet. These are 

 marked on the ordnance map Marsh Hills, and one place on West 

 Coatham Marsh is marked " Camps." They were formerly 

 supposed to be Roman Earthworks or Camps. There is no 

 doubt, however, that they were saltworks, pi'obably similar 

 to others on the Durham side of the river ; and Saltholrae on 

 that side of the river derived its name from these ancient salt- 

 works, and not from the Saltworks which in recent years have 

 been established there. It is probable that very considerable 

 quantities of salt were manufactured there and supplied to the 

 monasteries, some of which held interests in the works, as well 

 as for consumption by the general population. The heat Avas 

 supplied by coal washed up on the sea shore, as we learn from 

 the Cott., MS., which, referring to the mouth of the Tees, states 

 that " as the Tyde comes in, yt bringethe a small wash Sea-Cole, 

 which is implojed to the makinge of Salte, and the Fuell of the 



