HISTORY OF DECOYS. 



73 



" South of the vilhige is a noble swannery. . . . 



" It is the head of the Fleet Estuary, a long lagoon running 8 miles 

 up behind the Chesel Beach from Portland mouth to Reeds End boat-house 

 on the beach near Abbotsbury. . . . 



"In the open or broad part of the Fleet are kept 600 or 700 Swans, 



MORDEN DECOY. 



Sixeot'Pool 1'} acres. 



formerly 1,500. The Ro)alty anciently belonged to the Abbot, since to 

 the family of Strangways, now to the Earl of Ilchester." 



The revisers of the 3rd edition remark that at that date (1867) there 

 existed ;oo Swans on the Fleet. A great many still frequent this water. 



Morden, 6 miles N. of Wareham, on the property of Miss Drax of 

 Charborough Park. There used to be a Decoy here until 1856, when it 

 ceased to be worked, and since then the shooting around it having been 



I. 



