50 THE BIRDS OF ESSEX. 



and probably nowhere has wild-fowling^ been brought to greater perfection than 

 on the oozes, creeks, and flats along- this coast, where they have some of the best 

 gunning-punts to be met with in the kingdom." 



On this subject Folkard says {The Wildfozvkr, 3rd Ed., 

 p. 125):- 



"The gunning-punts of the eastern coast are of considerable reputation, par- 

 ticularly those in the neighbourhood of Maldon, in Essex, the form of whicJi is 

 much in favour with those who resort to the pursuit of punting in winter as a 

 means of subsistence. The form of the Maldon gunning-punt is verj' similar to 

 that of a coffin : simply flat-bottomed, with nearly upright sides, formed of two 

 broad strakes. The usual length is iC^ to 17 feet, and the breadth 2 feet 8 

 inches to 3 feet 10 inches. They are very handy for "setting " to birds, because 

 of the narrowness of their form, enabling the punter to use his arms freely, and 

 (by means of the paddles) with considerable effect ; but they are easily up-et 

 and require very great care on the part of the occupant in all his movements. 

 They have strong gunwales and a cross-piece, and are the least costly of any 

 gunning-punt that can be built. When intended for an extra large gun, they are 

 built in proportion — longer and wider as may be required In loading the gun 

 (if a muzzle-loader) whilst afloat in one of these punts, it is usual to row ashore 

 or lash the punt alongside a larger vessel." 



Several accounts of extraordinary "bags" of wild-fowl will be 

 found in the following pages, chiefly in the notices of the Brent 

 Goose. 



With reference to the Essex Decoys, Sir R. Payne Gallwey says 

 (49. 10) :— 



" It is pretty certain that decoys for catching ducks were first used in Lincoln- 

 shire and Essex, and that the neighbouring counties of Northampton, Cambridge, 

 Norfolk, Suffolk, and Yorkshire, followed suit." * » * 



" Though Lincolnshire had great returns, other counties did wonderfully well, 

 particularly Essex, with its immense estuaries and their feeding-grounds to attract 

 the fowl." 



" The Essex decoys were individually famous ones, and rivalled in number 

 those of Lincolnshire and Norfolk." 



It appears from the list given (49. 59) that, in respect of the 

 number of decoys, Lincolnshire stands first with thirty-nine, but that 

 Essex comes next with thirty-two, no other county having more 

 than seven, except Yorkshire (14), Suffolk (12), and Somerset (12). 

 Essex, therefore, formerly had twice as many decoys as any other 

 county, except Lincolnshire. 



Speaking of Essex Decoys, Sir Ralph says (49. 75) that, as might 

 be expected, they 



" were chiefly placed near the banks of the great estuary of the River Black- 

 water. This sheet of water is some dozen miles in length and two miles in 

 width, with its shores and outside its mouth flanked for miles with fine feeding- 

 grounds, in the shape of beds of ooze, to attract and support wild-fowl. Round 

 the estuary of the Black water, at least fourteen or more flourishing decoys 

 existed. To the north of the Blackwater, the Hamford Water estuary, with its 

 multitudinous creeks, small islands, and channels, had, as might be expected, 

 attendant decoys. St further north, on the border of the county, and dividing 



