138 THE BOOK OF DUCK DECOYS. 



constructed by old George Skelton, when he first migrated to Norfolk from 

 the Friskney Decoy in Lincolnshire. The Winterton Decoy was much 

 derided by the Norfolk Decoymen on account of its small size (2 acres), 

 compared to the extensive broads then used as Decoys by them. 



A derision, however, soon turned to wonder and envy on its becoming 

 known that "Old Skelton" had succeeded in catching in his " two- acre 

 puddle," as it was termed, i,[00 Teal in a week. 



Henisby, 1^ miles SW. of Hemsby, and at the northern end of 

 Ormsby Broad, may be seen the remains of an old Decoy, with 5 pipes, 

 long disused. It belonged to a Mr. Waters, whose son informed Mr. 

 Southwell that it was worked by his father, and that large catches were 

 often made, but that it had not been used since the commencement of the 

 present century. 



Woodbashvick, 5^ miles NW. of Acle. — There is a small broad in this 

 parish, on the River Bure, known as the " Decoy Pond," which evidently 

 derived its name from the Decoy which formerly existed there, the remains 

 of the pipes being still visible. From inquiries, however, made on the spot, 

 it would appear that it has not been used since the beginning of the present 

 century. 



Ramvorth, 4^ miles NW. of Acle. — This Decoy, a very famous one 

 years ago, was attached to the NW. end of Ranworth Broad, and was last 

 worked by its late proprietor, Mr. John Kerrison, about 1869. No regular 

 account was kept of the results, but from some memoranda in possession of 

 the owner's family (which Mr. Southwell was allowed to see) it apjjears 

 that the annual take was from 900 to 1,000 fowl, of which by far the largest 

 number were common wild ducks. The actual figures for the season 

 1864-5 were: Duck 877, Teal 70, Wigeon 8, Shovellers 3, Pintail i, 

 Tufted Duck i and Goosander i ; total 961. 



The Decoyman, formerly in Mr. Kerrison's service, informed Mr. 

 Southwell that when the American pond weed, Anacharis alsinastrum, 

 abounded in the district, the ducks evinced such partiality for it, that he had 

 great difficulty in enticing them up the pipes. Of those pipes there were 

 ten, the broad containing some 60 acres of water. It was at the Ranworth 

 Decoy that the late Rev. Richard Lubbock made the practical observations 

 which enabled him to write the interesting chapter on this subject in his 

 " Fauna of Norfolk," — perhaiDs the first really reliable account of a Decoy, 



