Alaskan Waterfowl Management— Gabriehon 295 



conditions that existed in the breeding grounds of the north 

 central states and in the Canadian Prairie Provinces. Only 

 since the end of the war has a sustained effort to secure detailed 

 data of Alaska's breeding waterfowl populations been possible. 

 The work is still too new to provide as complete and accurate 

 information as is available from many other parts of the conti- 

 nent. I may say, however, that each subsequent visit has 

 strengthened my belief in the importance of Alaska to conti- 

 nental waterfowl flights. 



Without attempting to catalogue all species of waterfowl that 

 breed in Alaska, it is possible to indicate those of major im- 

 portance. Alaska has breeding populations of the Whistling 

 Swan, Emperor Goose, White-cheeked Goose, Lesser Canada 

 Goose, Cackling Goose, White-fronted Goose, and Black Brant. 

 It also provides suitable nesting habitat for impressive numbers 

 of Pintails, Mallards, Green-winged Teals, Baldpates, and 

 Shovelers, among shallow water ducks. It contains one of two 

 principal breeding grounds of the Greater Scaup, and supplies 

 considerable numbers of Barrow's and American Golden-eye 

 and Canvasbacks, among those diving ducks regarded chiefly as 

 game birds. The chief North American breeding grounds of 

 the Spectacled Eider, the Pacific Eider, and Steller's Eider are 

 found within its boundaries. Only in the case of the King 

 Eider, among Alaska's eiders, is more extensive habitat found 

 outside its territorial limits. While these birds are utilized little 

 as game, they are an important part of the native economy in 

 areas in which they are found. 



Aside from these birds, there are two other abundant tundra 

 nesting waterfowl— the Old Squaw and the American Scoter, 

 both utilized in furnishing native food and clothing. Alaska 

 produces great numbers of these birds, and there are also ex- 

 tensive breeding grounds in Canada. 



The most important single breeding area is the Yukon-Kus- 

 kokwim Delta, a great fan-shaped marsh which lies between the 

 mouth of the Kuskokwim around the coast almost to St. Michael 

 and which follows both streams up to the point when they most 

 closely approach each other. This vast area of marshy lowland 



