DECOYS AND WILD-FOWLING IN ESSEX. 63
Tolleshunt Major, or Beckingham, parish. The pool is a large one,
with eight pipes. It has not been used for about twenty-five years.*
(15.) Gore Decoy is on Harvey's Farm, in Goldhanger parish
(detached portion), half a mile E. from the last-named and close
to the sea and the W. end of Gore Saltings. It has not been
worked for many years, but has been within living memory.
(16.) Skinner's Wick Decoy is within one hundred paces
of the shore, and opposite the last-named, across a creek. It is in
Tolleshunt D'Arcy parish and takes its name from the farm on which
it is situated.† It had eight pipes, and was formerly worked with
great success, but was given up about thirty years ago,
(17.) Bohun's Hall Decoy, so called from an adjoining
residence of that name, is on the N. side of Old Mill Creek, a
quarter of a mile W. from Mill Point, and rather over one mile and
a half S. from Tollesbury. It is situated on " Decoy Farm," and is
the one named " Left Decoy " on the one-inch and other Ordnance
Maps. It was large, with eight pipes, and formerly possessed a set of
poles and nets for taking Pochard, but has been out of use for many
years.
(18.) Old Hall Decoy (No. 1), which is still used, is in Tollesbury
parish, close to Pennyhole Fleet on the Old Hall Marshes, and in
the centre of the peninsula of land between Salcot Creek and
Tollesbury Fleet North Channel. Sir Ralph P. Gallwey says the
pool covers about fourteen acres, and has eight pipes, but these
are errors, though eight pipes are shown on both the six-inch and
twenty-five-inch Ordnance Maps. The decoy, which covers only
about two acres, was visited by Mr. E. A. Fitch and myself in June,
1888, when we learned that it has now but six pipes, instead of seven
as formerly, the two south-easterly ones having been disused and a
new one dug in place of them. The decoy is very ancient, but the
date of construction is unknown. Dr. J. H. Salter is the present
tenant. The numbers of fowl formerly taken are reported to have
been almost fabulous ; but although the decoy is one of the largest
and best in the county, no account is now kept, the adjoining
marshes being largely used for grazing, and consequently much
* Sir R. P. Gallwey calls this " Solley's Decoy," but Mr. Fitch has ascertained that (although
Mr. Richard Solly held Bohun's Hall Decoy, No. 17) he never held this. It is better, therefore,
to style it Joyce's Decoy, after the name of the farm on which it is.
t Sir R. P. Gallwey speaks of it as " Skinner's Wick, or White House Decoy," but as Mr.
Fitch has ascertained that no portion is situated on White-house Farm, it seems unnecessary to
retain the name.