68 THE BIRDS OF ESSEX.
The following interesting additional information relating to
Steeple Decoy (No. 8) is extracted from an article by Mr. J. E.
Harting, entitled " An Ancient Essex Decoy," which appeared in the
Field of July 5, 1879. (vol. 54, p. 38.) Mr. Harting says:—
" Tradition only points to the place where 160 years ago a profitable business
was carried on in the capture of Wild-fowl, chiefly Wigeon, for the London mar-
kets. Fortunately, however, for those who at the present day take an interest in
such matters, the Essex yeoman who constructed this decoy, being a business-like
man, took the trouble to write down the cost of its construction, and for thirteen
years kept a strict account of the numbers of Wild-fowl captured by him, and of
the prices they realised. This curious MS., which is contained in a small folio
volume, bound in vellum, was written between the years 1713 and 1727, and by
the favour of the present owner, Mr. Robert Smith, of Maldon, is now before me.*
The decoy in question was situated in Canney Marsh, just behind Steeple
Church, and rather more than half-way between Maldon and Tillingham. It
was originally constructed in 1713, but in 1721, the owner, evidently finding it to
be a source of considerable profit, went to some expense in enlarging it; and it
would appear that when the pond was dug out it was first filled by pumping from
Steeple Creek, but was subsequently supplied from a well which was sunk at
what now appears an insignificant outlay, £10, but which probably represents
about £50 of our money. As affording a good illustration of the prices paid for
material and labour in the days of Queen Anne, the first page of this MS. is not
without interest, and we here transcribe it verbatim et literatim."
An Acct. of the Charge of marking the Duckoy Pond uppon
Canney Marsh, by me John Cooch, 1713.
Emmanuel Bowen's (about 1778) : 6, Brick House, Mundon, 12, 30.
John Cary's (1801) : 12, 20, 25.
Greenwood's (1824) : 3, 4, 5, 12, 13, 16, 17, 19 (marked but not named) 20, 24, 25 (marked
but not named).
An Early Proof Ordnance (early in century) : 3, 4, 5, 12, 13, 14, 16, 20, 24 ; 3, 14 and 24
(marked but not named).
* Mr. E. A. Fitch, to whom the discovery of this interesting MS. was originally due, informs
me that it has now been lost sieht of and is probably destroyed.