545 
Returning towards tho coast, at the northern extremity of 
Ormeshy Broad, in the parish of Hemshy, are the remains of a 
decoy, which has long been disused. It belonged to the family of 
Waters, who have only recently disposed of the property ; and 
Mr. Edward Waters, who was born at the “Decoy Farm,” tolls me 
that it was worked by his father, and he has heard that very large 
catches were often made. The decoy was situated on the margin 
of tho Broad, in a “ car,” just behind the house, and remains of 
the pipes are still visible ; but, Mr. Waters believes, it has not been 
worked since the commencement of the present century, and that 
no one is now living who can remember it. 
Close to tho coast, and a little farther northward, we come to 
tho celebrated Wintei'ton Decoy (so-called, but really in the parish 
of East Somerton), an interesting account by Mr. Lubbock, of tho 
construction of which, will bo found in the appendix to tho 
second edition of his ‘Fauna of Norfolk.’ This appears to have 
been the first decoy made by old George Skelton in Norfolk ; he 
continued to work it up to the time of his death, which occurred 
in January, 1840, and was succeeded by his son Henry. From 
the puny size of the water, it excited the amusement of Skeltons 
fellow decoymen ; but in the second year of his superintendence, 
much to their astonishment, he took 1100 teal in seven consecutive 
days. This is almost the only fact known about the take of fowl 
at this decoy ; but there can be no doubt, that in such a situation, 
and in such skilful hands, it was very large. The Winterton 
Decoy passed from Mr. Huntingdon, for whom it was originally 
constructed, to the late Mr. Joseph Hume ; whose son, a few years 
ago, disposed of the property to Captain Bird, since which time it 
has not been worked ; tho proprietor, as with the Mautby and 
Ranworth decoys, preferring duck shooting to decoying. 
Not far from Somerton was the JFa.i7j<m Decoy, situated in a 
large marsh. It is probable that this decoy was constructed by 
Sir William Woodhouse, who, according to Spelman, in the reign 
of James I., was the first to introduce decoys into these parts: it 
certainly is a very old decoy. The marsh is now drained, and the 
site of the decoy planted with osiers. 
Mr. Purdy informs me that at the south-west corner of Wolterton 
Park, thcro is a wood called the “ Decoy Plantation,” and in it the 
remains of what was apparently once a decoy; he was unable, 
