CANVAS-BACK 137 



will be the creation of a sanctuary of suitable size in this region, where the fowl can 

 find a haven all of the time. 



It is hard to estimate actual numbers of Canvas-backs in Currituck Sound and the 

 Back Bay. In January, 1922, I certainly saw from 15,000 to 25,000 "using" in a 

 small area of water not far from the Virginia-Carolina state line. A good description 

 of the great numbers of " Cans " seen during a heavy freeze at the south end of Curri- 

 tuck Sound may be found in G. B. Grinnell's book (1901). 



At the Currituck Club Canvas-backs comprised only 0.3% of the total number of 

 ducks taken between 1888 and 1910, and some of the other clubs shot even less. 

 Few "Canvas" come into the marsh ponds unless they are slightly crippled, when 

 they are known in the local jargon as "Skuks" or "Skuksies." 



Although occasionally resorting to parts of Pamlico and Albemarle Sounds after a 

 heavy freeze farther north, there are no regular stamping grounds in these waters 

 except for small areas at the brackish mouths of one or two rivers. At the famous 

 ducking regions at the mouth of the Santee River the species is really scarce. I find 

 that only 25 were shot by the Santee Club during the seasons 1901-02 to 1908-09 in- 

 clusive, out of a total of over 22,000 ducks. At Oakley, South Carolina, only nine 

 were taken in the years 1916-23 out of a large number of other ducks. As showing 

 how uncertain generalizations can become, I find that Audubon thought the Canvas- 

 back by no means uncommon on the Santee delta and near Charleston. Farther 

 south there is very little good Canvas-back ground, although in exceptional years a 

 few turn up in the vicinity of Cape Canaveral, Florida. Out of a very large total of 

 ducks shot there in the thirteen years, 1908 to 1921, only nine appear on the Club's 

 books. All over the rest of Florida it is considered a rare duck; according to Harper 

 (U.S. Biological Survey) not quite so rare as the Red-head. Audubon mentions find- 

 ing them in considerable numbers on the inlets of East Florida rivers! 



When Beyer, Allison and Kopman (1907) compiled their list of birds of Louisiana 

 they spoke of this duck as decreasing. The Mississippi Delta and the inland waters 

 to the westward are favored by Canvas-backs here and there, but not, I believe, in 

 any such large bodies as on the Atlantic coast. In the season of 1913-14 only 1037 

 were reported by the Conservation Commission of Louisiana as having been mar- 

 keted out of a total of over 283,000 ducks. This is only 0.3%. 



Although it is reported as abundant on parts of the coast of Texas and on the lakes 

 of Mexico all the way from Chihuahua to Mexico City, we know very little of its 

 actual numbers there in winter. The interior lakes of Mexico are almost terra 

 incognita as far as their winter population of migrant water-birds goes. I feel sure 

 we shall find surprising numbers of our ducks wintering there. 



In California the Canvas-back is sometimes numerous on San Francisco Bay and 

 on the waters of the interior. Its numbers vary greatly from year to year and there 

 is a common saying among sportsmen that every fourth year is a good " Can " year. 



