MR. T. SOUTHWELL ON WILD-FOWL DRIVING. 
91 
a former paper on Decoying (Trane, vol. ii. p. 53S), I hope the 
Editor of that interesting journal will pardon my transcribing. It 
is as follows : — 
Deeping Fen Ducking. — That is the Country People having Eight of 
Common Enclosing many hundred acres wth large Netts having Pipes at 
their Ends & driving the Moulted Malards or Male Wild fowle into 
those Netts. 
N.B. There aro Very few ffemalc or Ducks when They being with 
their Young ffeeding out at Sea, but the Drakes being sick or unable to 
fly their Wing Feathers being gone with Casting their Feathers Stay 
amongst the Reeds & Rushes in the broad Fresh Waters. 
Spalding The Acct of fowle taken at the Ducking of several days 
Elloe in June 1728 by the people having right of Comon. 
Holland in June y e 20 = 394 doz“ 
Lincolnsh 21 = 387 
24 = 305 
Signed by Joseph Atkinson who was present & 
kept the Acct for the whol Company of 
Duckers. 
Whorcof 155 dozen were taken y c 1 st day being Thursday the 
20 June 1728 at One Push into the Netts. 
BytheStatut.es The Cause of the decay of Wild Fowl is attributed to 
25 H. viiiCxi. the taking them in the Summer Time & in their Moulting 
1534 Season & therefore that is thereby prohibited to be done 
between the last day of May & the last day of August. — 
Spa* iiij cl for Each Fowl. [And one year’s imprisonment.] 
This was repealed at the Petition of the Fenn Men by 
3 & 4 Ed. vi. c. vii. 1550 & It is hereby Sayd to have 
been found by Experience that there had been less plenty 
of Fowl brought to the Markets since that law had been 
made — and moreover It is sayd to have arisen in a private 
Cause, to have been of no comon comodity & in some 
sort brauded as an Impious Law. 
9 Ann C xxv. The driving or taking Wild Fowl in ye Molting 
1710 Season between 1st 0 f July and 1 st 0 f Sept? prohibited spa 
5 d a ffowl. 
This a Law for the better preservation of the Game & 
says in yt season ye ffowl are Sick & their fllesh is 
Unsavoury & Unwholsom. 
So far the communication in ‘ Fenland Notes and Queries ’ from 
the Spalding Society’s archives, but it will be interesting to follow 
the further legislation on the subject to the present time. 
* That is, sub pcena, under the penalty. 
