Alaskan Waterfowl Management— Gabrielson 297 



Emperor Geese, and have a major influence upon Whistling 

 Swans, Black Brant, and Greater Scaup populations. It will 

 affect in lesser degree the Green-winged Teals, Pintails, and 

 Baldpates which have much more extensive continental breed- 

 ing ranges than the other species mentioned. 



The Kotzebue Sound waterfowl unit produces largely Pin- 

 tails, but Lesser Canada Geese, Black Brant, and Greater Scaup 

 are present in important numbers. The Arctic slope from 

 Barrow to the Colville produces more White-fronted Geese and 

 Pintails than other game species, although limited numbers of 

 other birds are also present. It is also of importance to the 

 coastal Eskimo villages as a producer of eiders, old squaws, and 

 scoters which furnish an important part of the vast northbound 

 migration on which many natives rely for food in May and 

 June. 



The Innoko Flats are especially important to Pintails, Greater 

 Scaup, and Lesser Canada Geese, with Baldpate, Mallard, 

 White-fronted Geese, and Green-winged Teal also present in 

 worth while numbers. 



Little recent work has been done on the Yukon Flats, al- 

 though the earlier naturalists found practically every species of 

 fresh water duck now found in the Territory breeding there 

 in numbers. In addition such species as Canvasbacks, American 

 Golden-eye, Greater Scaup, and Bufflehead were more numer- 

 ous than elsewhere. Certainly an area that was as productive as 

 this appeared to be in former years merits attention at a time 

 when wildlife interests are forced to embrace every opportunty 

 to preserve waterfowl breeding, feeding, and wintering grounds. 



Present information regarding Tetlin Lakes is even more 

 intangible. I have been in the edge of this area and found most 

 of the common fresh water ducks, and in addition Barrow's 

 Golden-eye, scaups, and Canvasback in some number. I have 

 flown over it and noticed rather heavy concentrations of water- 

 fowl without being able to identify the species. This complex 

 of lakes, lying close to the Canadian boundary on the south side 

 of the Tanana River, needs more study to determine its relative 

 importance. 



