DUCKS 203 



the feral stock whence the domestic duck is derived, was 

 far more numerous formerly than at the present time. 

 This, doubtless, is in great measure to be attributed to 

 the extensive measures undertaken in the way of land 

 drainage and the reclamation of fen and marsh during 

 the past century ; this process having enormously 

 reduced the area of the natural feeding-ground of the 

 wild-duck. Some people on reading this statement may 

 be disinclined to accept it as the true reason for the 

 present-day comparative scarcity of these wild-fowl. 

 They, perhaps, will attribute the decrease in numbers 

 to the army of shooters which now takes the field on 

 every available opportunity. But if we consider the 

 huge quantity of wild-ducks formerly captured by the 

 decoy, it will possibly be admitted that the ancient 

 decoyman's methods were at least as deadly as are 

 those of the present-day gunner. A hundred years 

 ago wild-duck by thousands were caught annually in 

 the decoys ; Pennant states that at ten decoys near 

 Wainfleet, Lincolnshire, the number of ducks, teal, and 

 wigeon captured in one season reached the enormous 

 total of 31,200. This extensive use of decoys, together 

 with the system of driving the young ducks or " flap- 

 pers" into nets, practised over wide tracts of marsh, 

 undoubtedly reduced the numbers of the wild-ducks in 

 olden times far more than is the case with all the 

 shooting of the present day. 



Now that much-needed protection has been given to 

 wild-fowl in their breeding and moulting seasons by the 

 passing of the Wild Birds' Protection Act, the wild-duck 

 has evinced an increasing tendency towards remaining 

 here throughout the summer. There are many suitable 

 spots to be found around our coasts, also inland, where 



