THE 



BOOK OF DUCK DECOYS; 



THEIR 



CONSTRUCTION, MANAGEMENT, AND HISTORY. 



CHAPTER I. 



The History of Duck Decoys is surrounded by difficulties of no ordinary 

 kind, for the art of constructing and working them was carefully concealed 

 in former times, so as to prevent as much as possible any addition to the 

 number already existing, which otherwise would necessitate a division of 

 the spoil, that spoil being the myriads of wildfowl which formerly haunted 

 the fenlands of England. The Decoymen kept their secrets well, and 

 were indeed forced to do so in their own interests, for it stood to reason 

 they knew that the greater the number of Decoys in use the less would 

 be each owner's proportionate share of birds. A Decoy was private 

 property, was well protected by a wide ditch or high fence, and was 

 as a rule in a retired and even remote situation. It was usually 

 worked by one man, or perhaps by a father and son, and the owner 

 purposely shrouded its management with mystery, and spread absurdl}' 

 inaccurate reports as to his manner of Decoying and of the acces- 

 sories of the Decoy. He was always on the watch for intruders and would 

 on no account give them the slightest reliable information. He kept his 

 successes as secret as he could in a day when it was a matter of a livelihood 

 to him to conceal them ; for was he not fearful of an increased rent, or of 

 some covetous neighbour setting up a Decoy for himself hard by, and so 

 robbing him perchance of half his profits ? 



A Decoyman lived a lonely, quiet life, seldom attending fairs or 

 markets ; he conversed in a low tone, and his appearance and manner was 

 inoffensive and reserved ; always as though going stealthily for fear of 



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