HISTORY OF DECOYS. 165 



were being made at the Ashby end of the lake. Within the last fourteen 

 years over 2,000 ducks have been taken at each end in one season, but 

 lately the average has not been i.ooo ; in 1S77-78 the take was very small. 

 Success depends entirely upon the season and weather. Large numbers 

 have been captured in November and March, but January and February 

 are, as a rule, the best months. 



About 1820 Colonel Leathes' Decoy used to pay ^300 per annum, 

 after deducting all expenses. Duck and Mallard formed the largest portion 

 of the fowl ; then, in order, Wigeon, Teal, Pintails and now and then a few 

 Pochards ; Shovellers rarely of late, a few Goosanders and a Gadwall or 

 two. The proportion of the sexes seemed pretty even, but sometimes, 

 though rarely. Mallards were taken without Ducks. There can be no 

 doubt, says Colonel Leathes, that railways, threshing machines, and 

 drainage, have greatly decreased the numbers of fowl of late years ; but 

 the great evil has been the flight shooting up to the very banks of the 

 Decoy. 



In Colonel Leathes' Decoy, or, properly speaking, his end of the lake, 

 all the pipes being on its south side they cannot work with a northerly 

 wind ; which is a great disadvantage. The practice has been to work this 

 Decoy about sunrise and sunset ; but often on a moonlight night (especially 

 when the Ducks had been well fed, and did not go on flight in consequence) 

 a great number of birds have been taken, and old John Fisk used to say 

 there was no time better than quiet moonlight nights. 



There is a portrait of a large Newfoundland dog at Fritton Hall, 

 painted by Cooper, with the Decoy as a background, which many years ago 

 was a celebrated Decoy dog ; but generally a small dog is used, with the 

 occasional addition of a red handkerchief round its neck. Ferrets are 

 hereabouts by some esteemed even more than dogs, but being short-lived, 

 they die almost as soon as they have completed their training. 



At the Ashby, or eastern, end of the lake, opposite to Colonel 

 Leathes', Sir Savile Crossley, Bart., works four pipes. There is nothing 

 known as to the date of the construction of his group of pipes, which 

 doubtless are as old as those belonging to Colonel Leathes. The fowl 

 taken are likewise Duck, Teal, Wigeon, Pintail and Shoveller (the latter 

 rarely) ; Pochards are seen in great numbers, but they are rarely caught. 

 The best months are November and December for Duck ; March for Teal 



