86 THE BOOK OF DUCK DECOYS. 



but was given up some thirty years ago. Long since it was worked by 

 Mr. Smith's father, who is alluded to in connection with the Oakley Park 

 Decoy. 



Bohuiis Hall Decoy, on the N. shore of the Blackwater, and so called 

 from a residence named Bohun's Hall to which it was formerly attached. 

 It is if miles E. of the last Decoy, and is on the N. side of " Old Mill 

 Creek," a \ mile W. of Mill Point and a little over a mile and a half S. of 

 Tollesbury. As this Decoy is placed in what are known as the left Decoy 

 marshes it is sometimes spoken of as the left Decoy. To the E. of the 

 Decoy are the Mill Farm, and Tollesbury Wick marshes. 



The Decoy was a large one, with eight pipes, and also possessed a set 

 of nets and poles for taking Pochard. It has been out of use many years. 



Old Hall Decoy, N. of the Blackwater, in the parish of Tolles- 

 bury, 3 miles E. of Tolleshunt D'Arcy, has been for several years in the 

 occupation of Dr. J. H. Salter of D'Arcy House, Tolleshunt D'Arcy, near 

 Kelvedon. It was previously rented with the adjoining shooting, by Sir 

 G. Prescott, Bart. The Decoy is close to Pennyhole Fleet in the Old 

 Hall Marshes, in the centre of the peninsula of land formed by the Salcot 

 Channel and the Tollesbury Fleet North Channel. This Decoy, as I am 

 informed by Dr. Salter, was one of the largest and best in the county, 

 but labours under the disadvantage that the surrounding marshes are 

 much used for grazing purposes, and are consequently always being dis- 

 turbed, a circumstance which prevents the proper success of the Decoy. 



The pool, a very ancient one, covers about 14 acres, and has eight 

 pipes. The date of its construction is unknown. No regular account 

 has been kept of the fowl taken, which were formerly reputed almost 

 fabulous in number ; and Dr. Salter states that beyond taking a few 

 hundreds a year in hard seasons, he does very little with the Decoy, pre- 

 ferring to shoot the fowl in the adjacent marshes. The birds captured 

 are chiefly Duck and Teal ; very few Wigeon, which latter prefer the 

 Decoys of Marsh House and Grange, south of the Blackwater. To- 

 gether with other fowl caught. Dr. Salter mentions Pintail, Shoveller- 

 (which breed here in numbers). Tufted Duck, Long-tailed Duck, 

 Pochard, Golden-eye, Merganser, and Divers of different species. Among 

 birds not often captured in a Decoy, Dr. Salter mentions an Owl, a Snipe, 

 a Partridge, and a Kingfisher. 



