12 CIRCULAR 3 4 2, IT. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



the terms Atlantic, Mississippi, Central, and Pacific. The strong 

 attachment that these birds have for their ancestral migration routes 

 may mean an abundance in one flyway. It does not, however, mean 

 an increase in other flyways in succeeding seasons. Heavy over- 

 shooting throughout the country and drainage, agricultural activities, 

 and drought in the western parts have reduced the numbers of migra- 

 tory waterfowl over the entire continent, but the decrease has been 

 much more rapid in the Central and Pacific coast areas. This fact 

 is significant in the solution of problems in the conservation and 

 management of the waterfowl resource. It makes it appear inevi- 

 table that, if the depletion of the birds of the Central and Pacific 

 flyways and of certain species in the Mississippi and Atlantic flyways 

 continues as it has in the last few years, a complete suspension of 

 shooting privileges for a time may become imperative over all the 

 flyways, in order to enable the remaining remnants of the waterfowl 

 to increase. The results of the 1934-35 shooting season may be 

 decisive. 



U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE:1935 



For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, Washington, D. C. Price 5 cents 



