Fanøs kultur, natur og historie > Duck decoys > Eendenkooien in Fryslân 1450-2015
Eendenkooien in Fryslân 1450-2015. Af Gerard Mast
Een studie naar hun geschiedenis, geografie, terminologie, economie en sociale aspecten
Duck decoys in Fryslân 1450-2015. An investigation into their history, geography, terminology, economy, and social aspects
Review by Per Hofman Hansen. The same review in Danish
Duck decoys in Fryslân 1450-2015. An investigation into their history, geography, terminology, economy, and social aspects
Review by Per Hofman Hansen. The same review in Danish
Gerard Mast with his life's work on duck decoys in Friesland. Photo published with kind permission by Niels Westra ©.
A duck decoy is an installation for trapping wild ducks and other migratory birds set up close to coastal wetlands and saltmarshes. The duck decoy is an artificial and often hexagonal formed pond with curved canals (called ‘pipes’), which emerge from each of the corners. The pipes are covered with a net and will gradually become narrower and finally ending up in a trap in the same way as a fyke-net (fish trap). During their autumn migration wildfowl are often gathering on coastal marshlands in the vicinity of a duck decoy. Wild ducks are usually attracted into the pond and lured into the pipes and traps by tamed wing-clipped ducks. The ‘trap-master’ can now carefully move along the pipes towards the trap hidden behind a screen and finally catch and kill the birds captured in the trap.
Pearls in a landscape where time seems to be at a standstill
One of Fanø’s unique attractions, which is worth seeing, is the Sønderho Old Duck Decoy. During several years, grants from foundations and the work of volunteers has made it possible to restore the duck decoy so that today, it stands as when it was in use until 1930, apart from a period in the 1960s when it was used for a bird ringing programme. However, this duck decoy was not the only one on Fanø. Previously, there were a further three decoys, but two of them have either disappeared in dense scrub and reeds growth or lost any similarity to their origin. Moreover, Fanø is the only place in Denmark where duck decoys have been established and used.
History and geographical distribution
In the Netherlands, the number of duck decoys have been much higher, and more than one thousand have been in use during nearly 600 years. Today, approximately 120 are preserved and kept mainly as protected landscape elements of cultural-historical significance. Over the years, a certain number of duck decoys have been functioning as stations for ringing of birds.
It is noteworthy that the Province of Fryslân, which includes also the Wadden Sea islands of Vlieland, Terschelling, Ameland and Schiermonnikoog, is called “The Land of Duck Decoys”. It has been documented that more than 400 duck decoys existed between 1450 and 2015 in Fryslân. The number is far higher than registered in any of the other Dutch Provinces. Over a period of more than thirty years, the Dutch naturalist and scientist Gerard Mast collected historical documents and other information on the history of the Frisian duck decoys covering a timespan of more than 500 years. The oldest document he found is from 1450.
In 2021 Gerard Mast published his studies in an impressive two-volume book Eendenkooien en Fryslân 1450-2015. Een studie naar hun geschiedenis, geografie, terminologie, economie en sociale aspecten. (Duck decoys in Friesland 1450-2015. An investigation into their history, geography, terminology, economy, and social aspects).
The duck decoy Talmakooi from 1717 in Engwierum in Friesland. (Mast, vol. 2 p. 909 ff).
Iconic landscape features of cultural-historical value
Due to certain reasons, the information on the oldest duck decoys is scanty. However, after around 1600 the records are preserved much better, which leaves information on the duck decoys more numerous and satisfactory. At the end of the 1600s some 200 duck decoys are marked on historical maps and described in public archives. Though it is known that some duck decoys are very old, the point in time they were built is, however, only mentioned for a very limited number. Some of the duck decoys which have survived until today, according to the documentation are more than 400 years old. However, during the 1700s the number gradually decreased and in Friesland therefore, there are only 27 left. The protection and management of the remaining duck decoys and their surroundings mainly focus on information and education, and highlight their value as habitats for rare wildlife and plants as well as their historical importance.
Technical terms, types of duck decoys and legal matters
In a chapter on terminology, types of duck decoys and legal matters, Gerard Mast provides a detailed account of multifaceted technical terms as well as historical and geographical definitions used. As a result of his intensive archive research, he can now present evidence that tells the reader that there are different terms for a duck decoy such as: hurde, horde, koeij and coij and that the pipes are known as: pijpen, pypen, piepen, gangen, kelen and vangpijpen.
In a following section, Mast explains the daily work in a duck decoy as along with the seasonal work including the endless struggle to prevent predators access to the wildfowl. He also mentioned materials and tools used for fencing, maintenance of the pond, screens, pipes, nets, traps, and devices for trapping. Also, the assistant of the decoy-masters is described: a specially trained dog. Dogs were commonly used in the Frisian duck decoys, but never on Fanø. Today’s breed is a popular family dog called: kooikerhond.
In Friesland three different types of duck decoys are known: the Frisian, the Overijsselse and the Terschellingser. They are known by the differences in design of the pond and pipes, as well in the use of screens and nets. The size of land used for establishing a duck decoy may also vary from place to place from a relatively small installation with only one pipe to a very large one covering more than 22.000 m2 (2,2 ha).
Similar to Fanø, the owner of a duck decoys possessed special privileges. In Friesland known as afpalingsrecht (area limitation right), the right to maintain a relatively large zone surrounding the duck decoy as an undisturbed habitat for wildlife in the trapping seasons. The right of the owner could include a prohibition of public access and a ban on hunting in the area to secure undisturbed conditions. The circumstance that the owner enjoyed such privileges is an evidence of the central importance of duck decoys for the local society.
In relation to purchase and sale of duck decoys, Mast has found several vivid newspaper sales advertisements. It could be superlative expressions to promote the sale like splendid, beautiful, charming, important, prosperous, prominent, excellent, profitable, lucrative, very cheap, pleasantly situated, well regulated, patent right and many more.
Economy
Mast’s extensive archive studies and innumerable accounts from a great number of duck decoys show that the catch of wild ducks and the profit from the sale in Frisian and Dutch towns as well as abroad were important for the local economy. Similar to income from farming and hunting, it could provide a substantial contribution to the local society and the household of the owners. In another chapter you will find detailed information on the income based on certain periods and from some specific duck decoys the number and species of ducks trapped as well. It was obviously the same species that were trapped at Fanø including teal, being the most common species, together with mallard, wigeon and pintail. Prices on sold feathers and eggs, as well as live and wing clipped decoys are also shown. The chapter concludes with a section on sales outlets, trade routes, buyers, butchers and dealers which shows, that wildfowl were sold in the Netherlands, Belgium and France, and even shipped to the London markets.
It was important for the economy that a duck decoy was profitable over a long period of time. In order to achieve this, a permanent presence of ducks was necessary treated properly with food and other needs. During periods with frost, the pond and pipes should be kept ice free, and in the trapping season from August to the end of January the duck decoy should be visited every day. The summer months were reserved for repairs and maintenance of the installations.
The owner of a duck decoy would normally be a cattle farmer as his main or secondary occupation. However, when the farm work could be combined with the use and maintenance of the duck decoy, the total hours of work was not an important factor. If the annual catch exceeded 2000 ducks, and all expenses were paid, there would normally be a profit. Even if there have been more than 400 duck decoys operating in Friesland during several hundreds of years, and the records are not all satisfactory, there are on balance sufficient information to conclude that there seems to be an overall correlation between the economy in agriculture and the value of the related duck decoys. Mast found that the value of duck decoys shows the same fluctuation as the income from farming.
Culture history
In a chapter on the social history of duck decoys, Gerard Mast explains the many different trade terms for a decoy-master. It could be: kooiker, kooiman, kooiboer, kooihouder and kooiknecht with surnames as: Koij, Cooy, Koyker, Kooijker, Coymans and van der Kooy. Finally, in the same section, Mast refers extensively to the many family- and generic names associated with the duck decoys.
Folklore tales are also related to duck decoys. When dark woodlands and growth of scrub encircled the duck decoy and made the surroundings inaccessible, such a mystical place could easily stimulate ones fantasy. It is therefore easy to understand that in people’s imagination folktales could emerge about such dark places.
Inevitably, the distribution of the many duck decoys in Friesland have also left other cultural and historical tracks. However, over time an inconceivable number of maps and drawings have been produced with the primary purpose of creating a comprehensive overview and proving ownership. Often, the materials have been beautifully completed with fine and detailed elements like roads, houses, churches, mills, duck decoys, land registers and neatly applied place names. Further, the artists have also taken inspiration from the special design and location of the duck decoys in beautifully and idyllically settings. Even in poetry, music and opera, the duck decoys have been subjects for inspiration. You may also find phrases related to duck decoys in spoken languages, in place names and even in names of football clubs, campsites and guesthouses.
The futur of the duxk decoys
In the closing chapter on the future of the duck decoys of the first volume, Mast looks on both negative and positive aspects and gives some recommendations. His conclusion is that the future of the remaining duck decoys is uncertain. Several private owners are quitting. Luckily, some duck decoys are taken over by charities and private organisations assuming the responsibility of protecting and presenting knowledge on them and improving interests in their important trade and cultural history. Others are working to protect the nature and the attractive biotopes in and around the duck decoys as refuges for birds and wildlife. The often unique old species of plants will provide habitats for both vegetation and wildlife.
Gerard Mast’s closing words: The existing juridical and economical protection of the duck decoys varies considerably but unfortunately there are only few municipal councils interested in their function and maintenance, and the prospect is not bright. The duck decoys deserve our devotion, care and protection. A thorough and extensive documentation must guide us to a greater acknowledgement and appreciation of the duck decoys as a valuable cultural heritage. Hopefully this book will give the necessary information.
The first volume of the book contains several important annexes, and a few should be mentioned including a very useful index. In addition, there is an overview of consulted records, applied literature and an extensive register of names and places.
Biographies
Danish readers would probably be most interested in volume one, whereas readers living in Friesland and the Netherlands would probably pay more attention to the second volume with its local historical approach. The subtitle of the volume “Biographies” contains a description of the 430 known duck decoys in Friesland. Naturally, the accounts of the individual duck decoys vary considerably depending on available source references. However, the common impression of all the references is that in general they are elegantly illustrated including beautiful historical maps, drawings, paintings, recent drawn maps and photographs.
In conclusion
Unavoidably, Gerard Mast´s book is a comprehensive scientific work. Despite of an enormous amount of archive references and obviously hundreds of visits to all regions and duck decoys in Friesland, with outstanding skills Mast has managed to keep the overview and organize the material inviting and accessible. Even if the book only describes the duck decoys in Friesland, researchers, and historians, who may work with the history of duck decoys, in the work of Gerard Mast can find valuable information and inspiration irrespective of whether the investigations of the persons concerned are related to other parts of the Netherlands or abroad.
If you have worked with the subject previously, the Dutch language should not be a huge barrier with regard to the use of the book as there are many similarities to both German and Danish. Naturally, during the writing of this review I have found some difficult words. However, Google Translate have often been of a great help.
Per Hofman Hansen
Born in 1946. Librarian and historian. He has published and edited several books and articles on cultural history. In recent years in particular on Fanø. He edits and writes as well the homepage: ”Fanø’s culture, nature and history” (www.aldus.dk/fanoe), where several themes on the duck decoys on Fanø can be found.
Review translated into English by Palle Uhd Jepsen, retired wildlife biologist.
Bookinfo:
Gerard Mast: Eendenkooien en Fryslân 1450-2015. Een studie naar hun geschiedenis, geografie, terminologie, economie en sociale aspecten. Udgivet af Eendenkooi Stichting og forlaget Noordboek, 2021. 1087 sider i 2 bind i kassette. ISBN: 978-90-5615-6626