DECOYS AND WILD-FOWLING IN ESSEX. 63 



Tolleshunt Major, or Beckingham, parish. The pool is a large one, 

 with eight pipes. It has. not been used for about twenty-five years.* 



{15.) Gore Decoy is on Harvey's Farm, in Goldhanger parish 

 (detached portion), half a mile E. from the last-named and close 

 to the sea and the W. end of Gore Saltings. It has not been 

 worked for many years, but has been within living memory. 



(16.) Skinner's Wick Decoy is within one hundred paces 

 of the shore, and opposite the last-named, across a creek. It is in 

 Tolleshunt D'Arcy parish and takes its name from the farm on which 

 it is situated.f It had eight pipes, and was formerly worked with 

 great success, but was given up about thirty years ago. 



(17.) Bohun's Hall Decoy, so called from an adjoining 

 residence of that name, is on the N. side of Old Mill Creek, a 

 quarter of a mile W. from Mill Point, and rather over one mile and 

 a half S. from ToUesbury. It is situated on " Decoy Farm," and is 

 the one named " Left Decoy " on the one-inch and other Ordnance 

 Maps. It WMS large, with eight pipes, and formerly possessed a set of 

 poles and nets for taking Pochard, but has been out of use for many 

 years. 



(18.) Old Hall Decoy (No. i), which is still used, is in ToUesbury 

 parish, close to Pennyhole Fleet on the Old Hall Marshes, and in 

 the centre of the peninsula of land between Salcot Creek and 

 ToUesbury Fleet North Channel. Sir Ralph P. Gallwey says the 

 pool covers about fourteen acres, and has eight pipes, but these 

 are errors, though eight pipes are shown on both the six-inch and 

 twenty-five-inch Ordnance Maps. The decoy, which covers only 

 about two acres, was visited by Mr. E. A. Fitch and myself in June, 

 1888, when we learned that it has now but six pipes, instead of seven 

 as formerly, the two south-easterly ones having been disused and a 

 new one dug in place of them. The decoy is very ancient, but the 

 date of construction is unknown. Dr. J. H. Salter is the present 

 tenant. The numbers of fowl formerly taken are reported to have 

 been almost fabulous ; but although the decoy is one of the largest 

 and best in the county, no account is now kept, the adjoining . 

 marshes being largely used for grazing, and consequently much 



* Sir R. P. CTallwey calls this "Solley's Decoy," but Mr. Fitch has ascertained that (although 

 Mr. Richard Solly held Bohun's Hall Decoy, No. 17) he never held this. It is better, therefore, 

 to style it Joyce's Decoy, after the name of the farm on which it is. 



t Sir R. P. Gallwey speaks of it as " Skinner's Wick, or White House Decoy," but as Mr. 

 Fitch has ascertained that no portion is situated on White-house Farm, it seems unnecessary to 

 retain the name. 



