HISTORY OF DECOYS. 185 



It was admirably placed, as the neighbouring estuary of the Humber, 

 a vast extent of water and ooze, was then the resort of immense congrega- 

 tions of wildfowl, and is even now in hard weather. There is at this date 

 no trace of the Decoy, though on some maps a " Decoy Creek " is marked. 

 Sunk Island is in the southern division of Holderness in East Yorkshire, 

 on the north bank of the Humber, and 12 miles SE. by E. from Hull. 

 This island was gradually reclaimed from the sea ; 200 years ago it con- 

 sisted of but 800 acres, and a broad navigable channel separated it from 

 the mainland, over 2 miles in width. Now (1885) the so-called island (for 

 the channel has disappeared long since) comprises 7,000 acres of Crown 

 land in a high state of valuable cultivation. In 1829 Allen describes 

 Sunk Island as containing 4,000 acres. 



Thome Waste is 4 miles S. of Goole, and in the West Riding of 

 Yorkshire. There existed a productive Decoy here, north of the 

 Keadby Canal, on the moor some 2 miles west of Crowle, which small 

 town Is situated on what is known as the Isle of Axholme, at Its NW. 

 extremity, near the River Don, just over the border of Yorkshire, in 

 Lincolnshire. There are no records of the Decoy or its successes, but 

 Mr. Henry Ellis, of The Manor House, Crowle, distinctly recollects it 

 in use, and to him I am Indebted for what few notes I can supply of 

 it, as well as for the interesting account of Thorne Waste appended. 



In 1836 the Decoy was In full work; it ceased to be used about the 

 year 1840, as by that time a considerable extent of the moor had been 

 drained. The Decoy was an acre In extent, and had three pipes as well as 

 a Decoyman's hut close by. Its site Is now almost undlstlngulshable, and 

 is covered with small beech-trees, and various mosses and other products of 

 the moor ; but Mr. Ellis tells me that, knowing its exact position, he has no 

 difficulty in finding it. In the " History and Topography of the Isle of 



King Charles II. It is reported to have been at first a great bank of sand (of which there are 

 still many to be seen in the Humber at low water), that thereat other mud and matter stopped 

 till it arrived at its present bigness. The island, when it was given to Colonel Gilby, was 

 never quite overflown but at spring tides. At neap tides it was constantly dry. It is reckoned 

 about seven miles about, and is separated from Holderness by a channel nearly two miles 



broad There are near 2,000 acres enclosed by high banks to keep out the sea 



Some years ago they made a Decoy upon the Island, which is plentifully stored with wildfowl 

 especially Ducks and Teal, but it turns to little account for want of trees, which will not grow 

 well here, as the ground is too salt." 



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