I20 THE BOOK OF DUCK DECOYS. 



Cmvbit Decoy, in Cowbit Fen, to the east of the latter. The Decoy 

 is a mile N. of Cowbit, and 2 miles S. of Spalding, on the E. side of the 

 River Welland. 



Fleet Decoy, in Fleet Fen, E. of the last. The Decoy was situated 

 6 miles S. of Holbeach, on the verge of the S. bank of the South Holland 

 drain, 3 miles NE. of the hamlet of Whaplode Drove Chapel, as well as 

 2 miles NNW. of Sutton St. Edmunds. This Decoy was destroyed by 

 the cutting of the South Holland drain in 1793. 



Travelling further north towards Sleaford, we soon get to another 

 group of six old Decoys, all within 3 miles NE. of Dowsby, the most 

 southern of which is the famous Dowsby Decoy. 



Dowsby, near Falkingham, 6 miles NE. from Bourne. — It is stated by 

 Daniel in his ' Rural Sports ' (Suppl. p. 623), that in one season there 

 were caught in the Decoy here 1,075 dozen and eight wild ducks (12,908 

 birds), which on an average fetched 7s. per dozen. 



The Decoy has long ceased to be worked. 



This Decoy belonged to the Rev. Thomas Foster of Ryhall, grand- 

 father of the present owner, who has kindly supplied the appended copy 

 of an original document, recounting the birds taken in the season 1765-6, 

 with details of the catches for October and March : — 



Wildfowl caught in Dowsby Decoy from October i, 1765, to 



April i, 1766. 



13,008 birds, sold to Mrs. Gibbs of Langtoft, at 7s. a dozen 

 II dozen (132 birds) sold at Decoy ... 

 20 couples sold to Mr. Dodd ... 



^386 6 10 



Total number of fowl sold, therefore, was 13,180. 



As Teal and Wigeon were counted as 18 to the dozen, the grand total 

 for the year would represent at least 18,000 fowl. 



In this season (1 765-66) there were taken in the Decoy, in the months 

 of October and March, as follows, which is, it need scarce be pointed out, 

 for these months wonderfully good, even for those days of abundance : — 



