i6o THE BOOK OF DUCK DECOYS. 



as a few years previously (1813), an Act was passed for the enclosure of 

 waste lands in this part of the county, which destroyed its avocation. 



Phelps (" Hist. Somerset," vol. i. p. 49), writing at the beginning of 

 this century, thus alludes to the Decoy : — 



" The country is flat and marshy, and there is a large moor called 

 Ken Moor, adjoining to that of Nailsca, in which is a Decoy pond, these 

 levels being frequented by great numbers of Aquatic fowl." 



Decoys in the County of Stafford. 

 Decoys in nse. Decoys not in use. 



None. I Chillington. 



Chillington, near Wolverhampton, the property of Mr. Walter T. C. 

 Giffard, consists of two pipes attached to a large lake of 100 acres. It 

 was constructed by Mr. W. Giffard, the uncle of the present proprietor, 

 in the year 1825, and was regularly worked up to 1883-4 ; but now, owing 

 to the amount of repair necessary, is at present discontinued. 



The best season here realized 800 fowl ; but Mr. Giffard informs the 

 Author, the takes have not of late years approached to near that figure. 



