Evening star., 1901-05-31
10 hnSi
Famous Iken DecOy.

the business
Famous Iken Decoy.
The writer's last visit to such a scene
showed all this In great perfection. Pro-
vided with the kind permission of the own
er, which included order to work a
pipe he drove from oxford to the IA
nous and prolific decoy which lies in Iken
marshes. near the broad lagoon above Aid
borough called the Iken river. From start
to finish, before and during the drive there
was series of reminders of the presence
of unusual numbers of game and wild fowl
Widgeon (roasted) were on the breakfast
table. curlew and seagulls on the ploughed
neldS; swarms of partridges quietly feed
Ing on the frosty fallowS and even in the
cottage cabbage plots, and pheasants scat
tered broadcast over the whole face of the
country, were a constant and pleasant re-
minder that We were passing from side to
side OF one of the greatest game-producing
change of landscape was most delightful
The land is all ups and DOWNS" the lanes
never straight, but always sinuous, with
fine trees on either hand, even in the arabic
parts. Little rivers and brooks cut through
the valleys, up which run the heads of the
sea marshes, and down the hollows the
view wtdens over the levels toward the
Oxford river and the shore, half screened
by dark alder copses and solemn clumps
of spruce. Then, again, all Is light, sandy
heathery, and furze-covered, for you are
on Sudborne Heath, or Iken Heath popu-
lous with rabbits, and haunted by whole
commandos Of cock pheasants out for their
morning walk and feed. The decoy lies
out on the marshes about a mile from the
tidal river. and a quarter of a mile from
the sound ground behind The river must
be a mile broad, with large pine woods on
the opposite side. The junction of marsh
and the sound land is always interesting;
and here Is especially So for the light
rabbity soil runs to the very edge of the
black land v-ix-
out on to the marsh. draining the fats to
scme extent. This bit Of sound ground
runs beside the stream almost to the decoy.
though there is a marsh on one side and
one or two black. peaty cornf1elds on the
other, In which the cane-colored stubbIe
looks as II 1t were set in SCOT, and th..
bitches are full of white feathery reeds
On this tongue there are short sound turf,
and as beautiful old pollard oaks as there
are in Richmond Park Also, behind. up
the stream. and all round the moat which
encircles the decoy's screen Of wood are
the most wonderful alder trees in Eng
land. They grow as large as the oaks,
into great gnarled timber trees, with the
bottom Of the trunks bulging out like a
baobab tree, wreaths of twigs encircling
their waists, and immense limbs like staes'
horns. They are in full vigor, too, and in
early spring are covered with little dark
crimson and black catkins.
The Decoyman's Dogs.
When the sun draws up the blinds I'm the
misty sky, and looks out long enough to
color all these purple and red shoots
and .tassels, they show their beauty in
very fine fashion. The mere scenery, oaks
and turf in the marsh. the wide flats, the
great alders, and the cock pheasants feed
ing In the sun, are worth visit. BY this
time the old decoyman, who was in high
good temper and gave us to understand by
many mods and jerks of his head that we
were going to see something very mysteri-
Gus and successful, went down the avenue
to where he has his own private temple,
the domus ct penetralia of the duckery
Away from the road, yet not too near the
decoy, on dry spot on the marsh, under a
spreading oak, he has various huts of
reed, and two or three dog houses where
he keeps several generations Of decoy dogs,
from old ones to puppies coming on. turf
to burn when going to windward of the
ducks, and coats" for his dogs to wear
to the natural article. The dog at present
used is a nondescript collie, but more like
fox than dog. The color Is that of
the splendid red orange foxes Of Canada or
northern China, the tail very long, with a
thick mass OF fur at the end, the muzzle
and pricked. The walk and manners Of the
dog when going round and expecting to aid
In catching ducks are also not dog-like, but
like fox on the prowl. though she con-
sack over his arm to carry back the ducks
in. he led the way to,the decoy. unlocked
the gate. and walked straight to the near
est row of screens. Each OF these is made
OF reeds. but in the center of each IL
az in "a penny-in-the-slot machine.
for q peephole. Between each pipe
and the next fs q thick belt Of popiars
and alders round the pool. Consequently
the visitor may walk completely round the