DECOYS. 445 



records of this Decoy, but in 1836 it was in full work ; it 

 ceased to be used about the year 1840, as by that time a great 

 portion 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 indistinguishable, and 

 is covered by small beech trees, but Mr. Henry Ellis of the 

 Manor House, Crowle, informed Sir R. Payne-Gallwey in 1885 

 that, knowing its exact position, and having seen it in opera- 

 tion, he had no difficulty in finding it. 



In the " History and Topography of the Isle of Axholme," 

 by the Rev. W. B. Stonehouse (1839), * ne author remarked : 

 " A small decoy yet lingers on part of the common, where 

 wildfowl are occasionally taken, just sufficient to remind the 

 modern sportsman what a diversion the ancient fowler found 

 in these extreme and wild resorts of the feathered race." 



NEW ZEALAND. In 1880 the late Mr. Durham, who owned 

 a large part of Thorne Waste, partly constructed a small 

 Decoy on a portion of the moor known as " New Zealand," 

 near Thorne. It was never properly worked, and soon became 

 out of order. 



GOOLE OLD DECOY. A Decoy, that has not been worked 

 since the early years of the past century, existed near the 

 south bank of the Dutch River, near its junction with the 

 Humber at Goole, six miles N.N.E. of Thorne, on a large extent 

 of marsh, in those days known as Greenland. A farm, called 

 the Decoy Farm, still marks its position, and a house close 

 by the latter, at one time an inn, had for its sign " The Dog 

 and Duck " a name possibly suggested by the vicinity of 

 the Decoy. Some few years back the shape of this Decoy 

 was easily to be traced, but it is now grown up and lost to view. 



GOOLE NEW DECOY. Another Decoy, four miles west of 

 the latter, is shewn on some maps, also on the south bank of 

 the Dutch River. Being marked " New Decoy " it is probable 

 it was started either in rivalry of the last mentioned, or else 

 to take its place on Goole, soon after the commencement of the 

 past century, increasing in size from a hamlet to a busy town. 



ESCRICK PARK. Seven miles south of York, the seat of 

 Lord Wenlock. There were formerly two decoys here, one 



