40 BROADLAND SPORT 



namely, shooting over decoys, which at one time was 

 practised somewhat extensively. 



One young fellow in particular could be named who lived 

 on the shores of this w T ater, and who gained (until recently) 

 a fat livelihood from sporting in the winter and yachting in 

 the summer. Being well versed in the geography of the 

 waterways of Broadland and all the branches of sport they 

 were capable of, his services were in great demand by amateur 

 yachtsmen and sportsmen who visited the neighbourhood. 

 After the reeds had turned from their summer green into 

 yellow brittle stems, and the visitors, like the swallows, had 

 departed for more congenial climes, the products of his shoot- 

 ing and fishing supported him through the winter and spring. 



He worked his decoys from a promontory of the Broad 

 with great skill, and rarely returned home empty-handed ; but 

 now these days are past and the quantity of fowl which visit 

 this particular water is so limited that it is not worth any- 

 body's while to attempt decoying from a professional, or even 

 from an amateur, point of view. 



It was the custom of the youth alluded to to be up long 

 before daybreak and take up a position on a prominence of 

 thick reed -beds which jutted out into the Broad, affording a 

 secure retreat to his boat and to himself. The position was 

 well chosen, as all fowl entering the Broad would pass close 

 by this particular point, and they seldom failed to pitch near 

 to his imitation birds. 



The decoys, or stales, were made of wood painted by himself, 

 and excellent imitations. 



In some of the districts of Broadland decoys are still suc- 

 cessfully used, and a fair number of fowl are shot with their 

 assistance. But, like most other inventions, they are not 

 always to be worked either easily or propitiously ; everything 

 depends upon the minor details, which, although trivial in 

 themselves, are only mastered by a thorough course of study 

 and training with many years of practical experience. 



The subject of decoying is such that it must be allotted a 

 special chapter. 



