101600 
region. In the great Netley Marshes in Manitoba high ae wena out the early 
nests, and a later. flood iaueeten ee hennes at nesting, the Delta: marshes, 
‘however, where no adverse conditions prevailed, there was a good -hatch of redheads, 
canvasbacks, blue-winged teals, lesser scauos, and shovelers, Also offsetting 
the losses on the Netley Marshes were gains in’ the Whitewater Marsh, Oak Lake, 
and the entire pothole country of the southern and western parts of the Province, | 
where increases in numbers were recorded for all species of waterfowl except the 
ruddy duck, bufflehead, and Bias Se in the Saskatchewan River marshes of The Pas 
district an improvement was noted in general waterfowl conditions. Probably more 
waterfowl were produced in oni toba than for many years. 
fal 
Through the courtesy of the Royal Canadian Air Force, the Service's biologist 
was able to fly over a chain of lakes northwest of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. Water 
eanabesons were good, and larze concentrations of waterfowl were seen. During 
the course of the investigations, Mountain Lake was visited, where more ruddy ducks 
were noted then at any other place. Some botulism was found on Buffalo Fond: Lake, 
Jonnston Lake, and between the Big’ Arm and Last Mountain Lakes. lLeeches were as— 
sociated with at least one of the ovtbreaks, but mortality did not appear exces— 
sive.. Some nest losses had resulted from destructive hail storms and the spring 
burning of stubble, but as other conditions were favorable it seemed: likely that 
Saskatchewan would produce a.good crop of ducks. 
DO 
Extensive investigetions were made in Alberta by tae! Chief Dominion Migratory 
Bird Officer of the Prairie Provinces. Water levels and other waterfowl condi— 
tions were similar to those in Saskatchewan, and aD as Sat y increase in the water-— 
fowl population has kept pace with the improvement in physical conditions. the 
mallard increased with the greatest rapidity, followe sd by the pintail, blue—winged 
teal, shoveler, baldpate, gadwall, and canvasback. 
During the latter part of June and all of July 19:3 the biologist detailed 
to the Pacific Flyway worked in the Kamloops district of British Columbia and about 
Williams Lake, Prince George in the Upper Fraser valley, and the Vernon district 
of the Okanagan valley. British Columbia is a region of many lakes, sloughs and 
“potholes, and as habitat conditions change little over the years, increases in 
waterfowl populations may not be clearly evident. Nevertheless, moderate gains 
appear to have been made by practically all of the species. The mallard a5 con— 
sidered most abundant. 
Alaskza 
an area of special interest to sportsmen of the Pacific co . From banding data 
it' is evident that of the birds that use the Pacific mi te number of those 
that breed in the prairie regions of the United States and Canada is insignificant 
compared with that nesting in British Columbia end Alaska. The pintails and 
widgeons comosing the great flights that each year furnish most of the sport in 
Washineton,: Oregon, and California are slmost all from Alaska. 
No unususl conditions were recorded for the vast bre ae ng grounds in Alaska, , 
