46 THE WILD-FOWLER. 



as the decoy itself; and where this can be done, hundreds of wild- 

 fowl are bred, even at the present day, both in the suiTOunding 

 fens, and about the sedg-es and underwood of the decoy ; and it 

 should be remembered that these are the very birds on which the 

 decoyman's hopes chiefly rest : to the tamest of them he looks 

 for his decoy-ducks, and to the wildest to bring- flights of others 

 into the pond, on returning from their midnig-ht excursions. 



In former days, much difierence of opinion existed as to the extent 

 of water best adapted for the purposes of a decoy ; and, it being; at 

 all times pleasing- to the eyes of a wild-fowler to see larg-e numbers 

 of the duck tribe within the precincts of his domain, it was con- 

 sidered advisable to obtain as wide a surface of water as possible; 

 and, whilst from forty to flffcy acres have frequently been set apart 

 for the purpose, instances have been known of seventy and 

 eighty acres of water being- entirely so appropriated. But expe- 

 rience has long- shown, that more wild-fowl are taken in small decoys 

 than in such extensive ones as those alluded to. It is extremely 

 diflicult to induce birds to " pipe" in a very large decoy, though acres 

 of the water may be covered with them ; and whilst at the neigh- 

 bouring pools, only three or four acres in extent, the fowlers are 

 probably taking- their scores and hundreds daily, perhaps the other 

 catches none. 



These extensive spaces of fresh water, or small lakes, as they may 

 truly be called, aflbrd splendid preserves, but are ill adapted to the 

 purposes of decoy ; a safe retreat for wild-fowl at all times, and 

 shelter from the gunner and the storm ; but the birds are not to be 

 got at so readily, nor the pond worked so handily, as in a small pool. 

 Thousands of wild-fowl used to frequent these large decoys at all 

 times of the year, though in far increased numbers during the winter 

 season, spending the greater part of the day on the water and its 

 banks, where undisturbed ; and at twilight — or " flight-time," as it 

 is termed — they leave their daily haunts, to seek for food in marshes 

 and fens, perhaps many miles distant. 



The extent of a decoy-pond should not be more than four acres : 

 those averaging from two to three acres are best. Many instances 

 are known of a single acre of water, in the fens, yielding- more profit 

 to the decoyman, during the year, than all others above that size ; 

 but these have always been in the locality of small lakes, fens, and 

 })ools. It is easy to account for the better success attending small 

 decoys : the birds may generally be " worked," if the wild-fowler 



