HJ STORY OF DECOYS. 



119 



The largest number of fowl taken in a single season was in 1834-35, 

 when 6,357 ^''s recorded as captured, since which date over 6,000 fowl 

 have twice been caught in two different seasons. 



Beginning in the south of the county, a line drawn from Whittle- 

 sey in Cambridgeshire to Sleaford in Lincolnshire intersects numerous 

 ancient and disused Decoys. The first two met with are those of 

 Whittlesey and Borough Fen. The former in Cambridge, and the latter 

 in North Hants, will be found under their respective counties. Crossing, 

 however, from Nort Hants into Lincoln, we at once find a group of six old 



ASH BY DECOY 



Decoys close together, and all within 65- miles E. of Bourne, and just half- 

 way between the latter town and Spalding. They are as follows : — 



Bourne Decoy, in Bourne Fen, halfway between Twenty Station (on 

 the Bourne and Spalding Railway) and the River Glen, and 4^ miles E. of 

 Bourne. 



Deeping Fen Decoys, of which there were. Jive on the northern edge of 

 Deeping Fen, between Spalding Common and Bourne Fen, and between 

 the River Glen and the North Drove Drain. The four northernmost of 

 these are within a space of a mile long, and are within 6 miles E. of Bourne. 



