PIKE AND HERONS IN DECOYS. 71 



when one of his tame swans dashed along the 

 water for several yards, ere it could shake off a pike 

 of some ten pounds which had closed on the bird's 

 foot. The narrator said that the fish " held on/' 

 the truth being it could not leave go so soon as 

 wished. By reason of its incurved teeth it would 

 be hard to disengage anything that fitted tight in a 

 pike's mouth. As many shooters are also fishermen, 

 I may, perhaps, be pardoned for this digression 

 from feathers to scales. 



Pike in decoys disturb the peace of mind of the 

 ducks, and should be got rid of. Set lines should 

 be arranged and baited in the evening, when the 

 fowl have left for the night, and be taken up and 

 reset at the same hour the following day. Anything 

 unusual startles the denizens of a decoy, and makes 

 them suspicious for some time. The Heron is well 

 nigh as bad as fox, pike, or otter, he is so visible. 

 His stealthy tread, as if on guilty deed intent, his 

 heavily flapping wings, ungainly form, and, worst of 

 all, his hoarse cry, are most objectionable to wild- 

 fowl in a confined space. His very shadow will 

 alarm them a spectre in itself. He must assuredly 

 be trapped or poisoned. All noise must be avoided 

 near a decoy ; and this halo of quiet should, if pos- 

 sible, extend half a mile on every side. A perfect 

 decoy cannot be too lonely or retired from sights 

 and sounds of every kind. It should be small 

 rather than large ; two acres is plenty of water ; the 

 birds are then much more manageable, and likely 

 to follow dog or tame birds. There are scores of 

 places in Ireland where decoys could be made, not 

 only as a source of amusement, but of profit as well. 



