292 THE YORKSHIRE FEN 



to reach it. The decoy pond was circular, with six 

 acres and a half of water and six "pipes." In 1662 it 

 was let for twenty-one years at an annual rent of 15 

 not a bad return on a capital of 1 60. But in 1 707 

 the rent had fallen to 3. Yet there must have been 

 plenty of wild-fowl still upon the "carr." Smeaton did 

 not complete the drainage till after 1762 ; and the 

 lessee of 1707 made a specialty of catching pochards 

 one of the best ducks for the table, though not often 

 seen in English poultry-shops at this date by means 

 of nets which were raised by pulleys on poles after the 

 pochards had settled on the water. 



The last decoy-man died in 1794, and all the pipes 

 were in existence in 1778. Now the Great Northern 

 railway runs straight through what was the decoy ; part 

 of the wood which surrounded it remains, but few 

 visitors from London to Doncaster imagine that just 

 as they approach the busy town they are running 

 through the site of the old corporation decoy. But 

 south of the line the " carrs " are still secluded, solitary, 

 and a very paradise for birds. Mr. Clarke's interesting 

 and full account of the archaeology of wild-fowling in 

 the district should be read by all who know the 

 Yorkshire fen as it is, and would like to picture what 

 it has been. 



