8o 



THE BOOK OF DUCK DECOYS. 



and of the prices which they realized. This curious MS., which is con- 

 tained in a small folio volume bound in vellum, was written between the 

 years 1713 and 1727, and by the favour of the present owner, Mr. Robert 

 Smith, of Maldon, can now be criticized. The Decoy was originally con- 

 structed in I 71 3, but in 1721 the owner, evidently finding it to be a source 

 of considerable profit, went to some expense in enlarging it ; and it would 

 appear that when the pond was dug out, it was at first filled by pumping 

 from Steeple Creek, but was subsequently supplied from a well which was 

 sunk at what now-a-days appears an insignificant outlay, ^10, but which 

 probably represents about ^50 of our money. 



As affording a good illustration of the prices paid for materials and 

 labour in the days of Queen Anne, the first page of this MS. is not with- 

 out interest, and I here transcribe it verbathn et literatim : — 



An Acct. of the Charge of Makeing the Duckoy Pond uppon 

 Canney Marsh 15V me John Cooch 1713. 



Bot. 2 s of rope yarn 

 Bot. reed and broom 

 Bot. one barrl. of tarr 

 Bot. netts and twine 

 Bot. piles 

 Bot. 1660 poles 



Pd. for diggin the pond and tlie four pipes 

 Pd. for 120 rod of ditching about ye pond 

 Pd. Thayers for a putnp and fiUing the pond 

 Pd. Thomas Peach, duckoyman at Tillingham, for his judge- 

 ment and trouble in setting out the pond 



Tottall 



26 13 6 



;^i76 



An Acct. of the Charge of Makeing the Duckov Pond uppon 

 Canney Marsh Larger by me William Cooch 1721. 



£ s. d. 



Pd. for removing pt of a bank 



yepd 



Pd. for makeing 3 new pipes 



Pd. for 600 of poles 



Pd. for 300 of piles 



Pd. for tar 



Carried forward 



and diging ye new pt of 



;^ii' 



