March 1895.] THE DUCK-FAITENING INDUSTRY AT AYLESBURY. 281 



IV.— THE DUCK-FATTENING INDUSTRY AT 

 AYLESBURY. 



In a Report by Mr. Aubrey Spencer to the Royal Commission 

 on Agriculture, relating to the condition of agriculture in the 

 Vale of Aylesbury, there is some interesting information as to 

 the duck-fattening industry in that district. It appears that 

 the persons who engage in duck fattening in Aylesbury and 

 the surrounding villages are generally men of the labouring 

 class or small village tradesmen. The number of ducklings reared 

 and sold annually by individuals varies from a few hundred to 

 several thousands. The ducks, which are always of the large, 

 pure white, or Aylesbury breed, require constant care and 

 attention all through the spring months, and no one who rears a 

 large number would, during that period, have time to engage in 

 any other work. But where a comparatively small number is 

 reared, the female portion of the household do most of the 

 necessary work. Many of those engaged in rearing are said to 

 find time to carry on some other occupation, such as shoe- 

 making, in the autumn months, or, at any rate, to earn a little 

 extra money by harvesting and occasional agricultural work. 

 Mr. Spencer was told that in the village of Weston Turville about 

 11 men fattened 1,000 ducks a-piece annually, and that about 

 16,000 or 17,000 were sent from there to London in a year. 

 As a rule, the duck fatteners do not themselves keep stock 

 ducks, but buy eggs from farmers or others who keep breeding 

 ducks, so that the breeding and rearing are in different hands. 



It is a main object of the duck fattener to bring out as many 

 young ducks as he can ready for the market in February or 

 early in March when the game season is over, and the highest 

 prices are obtainable for ducklings. The season for ducklings 

 commences in February, and continues till about the end of 

 August, the prices falling as the year advances. In February 

 or March, as much as 11. Is. a couple is occasionally obtained 

 for ducklings, and one fattener at Weston Turville informed 

 Mr. Spencer that in 1894 he had obtained the very exceptional 

 price of 24s, for a couple, which was the highest figure he had 

 ever reached. The average price in March is stated to be more 

 usually about 12s. or 14s. a couple. The carriap^e and sales- 

 man's commission for the ducklings (5 per cent.) ai e reckoned 

 at about Sd. a bird, and duck fatteners commonly estimate that, 

 after deducting carriage and commission, they receive on the 

 average about 3s. Sd. a duck. Mr. Spencer, however, is inclined 

 to think that this estimate is rather under than over the mark, 

 for in August, when he visited the district, prices were still as 

 high as 6s. to 7s. a couple. 



As regards accommodation, it appears that a small back yard 

 or garden attached to a cottage affords sufficient room for the 



