THE DUCK DECOYS OF ESSEX. 221
p. 73). It was situated north of the place, which gives it its name,
south of Skipper's Island in Hamford Water, and south-west of
Kirby Creek. Nothing is known of this pool, although Christy
includes it in his list in The Victoria History of Essex.
26. Old Moze Hall Decoy was situated in the parish of
Beaumont-cum-Moze near the N.W. corner of Hamford Water.
The pool was nearly circular, one hundred yards wide, and had
six pipes, which in 1890 were said to be obliterated. It was last
worked in 1841 by the widow of Mr. Joseph Salmon, who for
some years rented the decoy and mansion from the Governors of
Guy's Hospital. Mr. Carrington, the owner, in 1810 brought an
action against one Taylor for firing a gun near the decoy and
driving off the fowl, so that the defendant might shoot them. The
case was tried by Lord Ellenborough in the Court of King's
Bench, and resulted in a verdict for the plaintiff as recorded in
11 East, p. 571, and 2 Camp., p. 258.
27. Great Oakley Hall Decoy lay at the head of Oakley
Creek, in Great Oakley parish, about 300 yards north from No. 26.
The pool was rectangular, about one acre in extent, had six pipes
and was fenced all round with a high wooden palisade. Interes-
ting information regarding this decoy has been handed down to
us by James Smith, who was alive in 1886, although eighty years
of age. His father and his grandfather before him were Decoy-
men at Great Oakley Hall. Payne-Gallwey refers to Smith as
the last of the old race of Essex Decoymen ; not only had he
worked the Great Oakley Hall Decoy, but also during his youth
the Marsh House Decoy. His father had commenced to employ
him at the age of fourteen. At Great Oakley Smith had taken
18 dozen, namely 212, in one drive, 36 dozen in one day, 100
dozen in one week and 700 dozen in one season. These figures
are more imposing than they appear to be, as Smith spoke of
700 dozen whole fowl. It has been supposed that 300 dozen of
the 700 were what was known as half-fowl, i.e.,Teal, Wigeon,
etc.—two half-fowls being counted as one whole fowl—so that
one season's catch amounted to :
400 doz. whole fowl, 4,800 Ducks
600 doz. half fowl 7,200 Teal, Wigeon, etc.
12,000 birds
The ducks were taken usually at sunset and sunrise and liver-
coloured fox-terriers were the dogs preferred, but sometimes
a ferret was used. The nose of the ducks was so keen that a
piece of burning turf was considered essential. The bait con-
sisted of : Oats, buckwheat and hempseed oil, the latter being