WILD-FOWL DECOYS AND WILD-
FOWLING IN ESSEX.
IN the days when decoys for taking Wild-fowl were in common use,
those of Essex were of great importance. Next to Lincolnshire,
indeed, Essex may fairly claim to have been the foremost county
in England, so far as the number of its decoys is concerned.
There are several early references to these decoys. Thus, the
Rev. T. Cox in his Magna Britannia (1720) says of Essex (vol. i.
p. 722), "By the sea-side there are divers decoys, which bring in
great profit to the owners in the winter season."
Daniel Defoe, too, in his Tour Through the Whole Island of
Great Britain (1724) says (vol. i. p. 11) :—
"Here is Osey or Osyth Island, commonly called Oosy Island, so well known
by our London Men of Pleasure, for the infinite Number of Wild-Fowl, that is to
say, Duck, Mallard, Teal, and Widgeon, of which there are such vast flights, that
they tell us the island, namely the Creek, seems covered with them at certain
times of the year, and they go from London on Purpose for the pleasure of Shoot-
ing ; and, indeed, often come Home very well loaden with Game. But it must be
remembered, too, that those Gentlemen who are such lovers of the Sport, and go
so far for it, often return with an Essex Ague on their Backs, which they find a
heavier Load than the Fowds they have shot."
Morant also says (vol. i. p. xxv.) :—" At Goldhangre, Kirby, and
other parts along the coast are many decoys, which yield plenty of
Wild-fowl of all kinds."
It appears from Daniel's Rural Sports (6. ii. 482) that in 1800
"the several proprietors and occupiers of decoys, on and in the
neighbourhood of the river Blackwater " formed an association for
the purpose of prosecuting all such gunners and puntmen " as shall
hereafter by fowling, or in any other manner, disturb the wild fowl in
or near such decoys, or hinder or prevent their resort thereto." An
advertisement, dated "Maldon, September nth, 1800," and signed
by " Wm. Lawrence, Solicitor to the Association," was inserted in
the papers, offering a reward of five guineas for information leading
to a conviction.
Considering the nature of our Essex coast, it is nothing more
than might have been expected that both decoys and wild-fowl