Ee 
) Treadway Lake, Beardstown.--Little change in the area occu- 
mied by various plants occurred between 1938 and 1939. Several large 
eds of duck potato, which bordered some islands of the lake, were 
maeroached upon slightly by American lotus in 1939. More scattered 
Macches of giant bur reed were found in 1939 than in 1938. Eecause 
ma the La Grange Dam, the water level was about 8 inches higher in 
mepcember, 1959, than the year beforc. 
| 
; 
. Muscooten Eay, Ecardstown.--Small scattered beds of marsh 
mmartweed covered about the same area in both 1938 and 1939. Ex- 
mensive tracts were covered with American lotus; there was a slight 
mecduction of this Bile fells in 1939. Duck potato increased in abun- 
mance in 1939, as did giant bur reed. Sago and long-lcaved pondweed, 
mairly comnon in 1938, were virtually absent in 1939. The water 
Bevel of Muscootcn Bay has been raised about 12 inches by the La 
Grange Dam. 
; 
: a ef the Illinois River.--The banks of the Illinois 
Maver have much better frow aaa of smartwecds, pigwecds, nut grass, 
meal srass redetaakie) & na duck miitet in 1939 (Blaine alta IES)S1S}- 
General Summary of Food Conditions and Water Level.--Con- 
Beasting the watorrowl conditions in the Illinois Valley for 1958 and 
#959, we find a slight improvement in natural duck foods in 1959 and, 
because of the two wicket navigation dams, a higher water level in 
ome lakes 2nd a lower level in others. 
Stomach Analyses 
Stomachs of almost 2,000 ducks were collected during the 
1938 hunting season from coop orating duck clubs. Most of these clubs 
more located on the Illinois River between Pekin and Browning. 
Btomachs were obtained also from several clubs along the east side 
if the Mississippi River between Hamilton, Illinois, and Crystal Lake, 
@cross the river from Burlington, Iowa. The analyses of 557 stomachs 
mas been complcted to date; over 60 per cent of these were from 
Mallards and pintails; the remainder were from 15 other species, most- 
wy from lesser scaup and ring-necked ducks. All the stomachs so far 
€xamined have been from ducks killed between November 6 and 27. Be- 
Ibween these dates all the native food plants have mature seeds, and 
moe cultivated grains have been harvested. 
Mellards.--Although 39 plant species and 15 animal species 
Were identified from the food contents of 285 stomachs, seed from 
Bex plants made up nearly 70 per cent of the total volume of food. 
@hese plants are listed in table 7, with their comparative ratings. 
