THE DUCK DECOYS OF ESSEX. 195
numbers taken annually for a period of twelve years, 1924 to
1935, at Grange Decoy. During this period 20,782 ducks were
caught, giving an average of 1,732 per annum. These returns reveal
a serious decline, for in 1924 the total number caught was 3,457,
while the same figure for 1935 was 550; we have seen that in the
earlier days of decoying Wigeon chiefly were taken, but in recent
years the position has been altered; in 1924 Wigeon headed the
list with 1471, but in 1935 the number had fallen to 25, as
compared with 303 Teal and 222 Mallard, and for the total
period of twelve years the figures are 8,734 Mallard, 7,666 Teal
and 4,382 Wigeon. At Great Oakley Hall Decoy as many as
12,000 ducks were said to have been taken in one year in the
nineteenth century probably in the first half. The Essex
figures may be compared with those of the Ashby Decoy, South
Lincolnshire, for a period of thirty-five years, 1833-4 to 1867-8,
Wild Duck 48,664 ; Teal 44,568 ; Wigeon 2,019; Shoveller 285 ;
Pintail 278; total 95,836, giving an average of 2,741 birds per
annum. A little information as to the best months has been
handed down to us. Of the total number of 44,677 Wigeon
caught in the Steeple Decoy the monthly figures are: October
18,671; September, 15,897; November, 7,655; August, 1,085;
December, 1085 ; January, 275, and February, 9. One hundred
and fifty years later, about 1878, of every hundred Wigeon taken
in Marsh House Decoy, thirty were killed in January, twenty
in December, nineteen in February, nineteen in November, seven
in October, four in March and one in September. A comparison
of these two sets of figures reveals that a remarkable change
has occurred in the habits of the Wigeon. It may be added that
what we know of the habits of this duck today is broadly in
agreement with the information derived from the Marsh House
Decoy. As to the other birds, Ducks, Teal and Pintail, we
have only the monthly figures for the first year (1714) of Steeple
Decoy, which are as follow : Three hundred and thirty-five in
December, two hundred and eighty in November, two hundred
and seventy-eight in January, one hundred and twenty-nine in
September, and forty-six in October. The prices obtained for
the ducks taken at Steeple Decoy rose steadily from nine shillings
and sixpence per dozen in 1714 to sixteen shillings in 1723,
remaining at the latter figure to 1726. The only other reference
to price relates to West Mersea Decoy, where, it was stated
about the beginning of the nineteenth century the figure was
sometimes as low as fourteen shillings per dozen.
Most of the decoys were situated in proximity to salt water,
and it is not surprising to find that at least nineteen may be said
to be situated along the estuary of the Blackwater, which is today
the best part of the Essex coast for birds. Another favoured