OULTON BROAD TO GREAT YARMOUTH 71 



letter S, it is two miles in length and wonderfully picturesque, 

 whilst many are the pictures of this Switzerland of Suffolk 

 that have been hung in the Royal Academy. The fishing is 

 excellent, and, at the same time, free to all, and more bream 

 may be taken in one day with a rod than can be carried home 

 alone. Several abandoned decoy pipes are to be found in the 

 secluded nooks round the water, and at the easternmost ex- 

 tremity is one in full working order. During hard weather 

 thousands of wild ducks are taken in this decoy and sent to 

 the London markets. The average season produces about 

 1 500 to 2000, but as many as 1 80 have been taken in a single 

 haul. There are many other decoys in Broadland, but they 

 are gradually being abandoned owing to the great seclusion 

 they require. At Somerton, on the sand dunes, between the 

 Broads and the sea, was the smallest and most successful 

 decoy in the whole of Broadland, but some thirty years ago 

 it fell into disuse and has now quite grown up. Norfolk 

 decoys have of late years been more often worked as a hobby 

 than from a mercenary view, therefore the records of their 

 victims cannot be compared with elsewhere, as, for instance, 

 the old Ashby decoy in Lincolnshire, where the bag from 

 September 1833 to April 1868 totalled 99,052 fowl; including 

 47,764 mallard, 44,658 teal, 2119 widgeon, 285 shovellers, 275 

 pintail and 11 gadwall. 



The property round Fritton Lake is owned by several 

 persons, chief among them being Sir Saville Crossley, who 

 strictly preserves the shooting, which, it is needless to say, is 

 excellent. Boats may be obtained on the water at Fritton 

 Old Hall. The grounds surrounding the house are prettily 

 laid out, well kept up, and this is a good place for a picnic. 



Returning to St Olaves, we find all in readiness to proceed 

 on our voyage. In sailing away from the old grey ruins of 

 the abbey, an expanse of heath on the right-hand bank of the 

 river cannot fail to attract attention ; it is very good shooting 

 ground, but private. Away to the left stretches nothing but 

 marsh and water. On a fine afternoon, with the sun haze 

 rising over the marshes causing distant objects to be indistinct, 



