64 THE BOOK OF DUCK DECOYS. 



that time the Decoy keeper's house was standing within the wood ; it was 

 pulled down ten years ago. 



John Capel, a man of eighty, a native of and still living in Winchendon, 

 remembers the Decoy all his life, but never remembers its being worked ; 

 indeed it appears to have been dry ever since he knew it. He remembers 

 " the trap," and gave it to Cooper, for whose father he was then working. 

 John Capel, when a young man lived for some years in the house in the 

 wood. He states that his father, who was also a native of Winchendon, 

 remembered the Decoy being worked, and that the ducks went to the 

 Duke. 



The valley in which the wood is situated extends from Winchendon 

 to Dorton, and Wotton (the seat of the Duke of Buckingham), and is about 

 3 miles from Boarstall. It is well watered, and in former days no doubt 

 wildfowl were plentiful. 



At Wotton Park, 7 miles N. of Thame, on the estate of the Duke of 

 Buckingham and Chandos, are three small Decoys, each with three pipes, 

 and connected with a lake covering about 56 acres of water, and when in 

 working order were used to supply the wants of the family, whether at 

 Wotton or Stowe. They were worked until 1875, when the present Duke 

 went to India, at which time the pipes being out of order were not repaired. 

 They are now, as I am informed by his Grace, about to be renewed. The 

 take was principally in December and January, but in some seasons a few 

 were caught during the period of the equinoctial gales, and occasionally 

 some in November. 



From 1820 to 1840 the average take annually was about 310, the 

 largest capture having occurred in 1837, when 381 Ducks, 16 swans, and 

 2 Wild Geese were taken. From 1830 to 1842 16 Wild Geese were 

 taken in these pools. Between 1846 and 1873, less wildfowl being required 

 for the use of the household, the annual take averaged only 86. 



Half a dozen Dutch call-ducks and from twelve to twenty domesti- 

 cated and trained wild ducks were kept as Decoys, and no dogs were used. 



At Claydon House, 3 miles WSW. of Winslow, the seat of Sir Harry 

 Verney, Bart., is the site of an old Decoy, now drained, and nearly as dry 

 as the surrounding land. No one living can remember the Decoy being 



