Sal Oe. 101600 
Me oye 
_ The’ Miser = aipet: by of oe was: in the ‘Field ‘Hmost, Bonerehely during | 
the season and his report one wnat. happened. AG the’ opening: of the season in 
south-central Minnesota watérfo wh. were relatively scarce “and so cremained until . 
November 12, when a very large flight of mallards was noted, °’Farther west, owing 
to large numbers of blue-winged teals lingering until -Octéber 10, shooting was 
ee better, and in the Plains States. generally. the late flight was the heaviest > 
n years. Even a heavy snowfall, which in the ‘Dakotas ELEC the storn of 
ie bér 11, 19Uc,: did not drive -the waterfowl on. Southern Canada had the great- 
est. ‘population of ducks s since 1938. aD CaN Nh: abyte eae 
“Because of the late: oe rapid migra ation, the kill was Jpelatively low in 
several popular hunting areas.: ee example, elong the T1linois seve the bee was - 
reduced - about 33. pouccut compares jhe) Gat Ob Ne a 
tn the ‘Aeventio Flyway eee was generally aoe ‘south eh, and including, 
New Jersey, but from Chesapeale Bey..southward tae birds were ‘so late in arriving 
that shooting could be classed only as indifferent’ to poor. Gn the other hand, 
throughout the Central and Pacific Flyways generally, there were heavy flights 
and ‘the hunting was excell ént,/..in fact, the birds were’’so. abundant in some places, 
notably California, that .erops, were: heavily 4 Gamaced, ae administrative and other 
corrective action was HEPC REST : 
a : 
hop eae Winterine Groun id Survey 
“As during the winter of 1923, opera ations ‘were confined to the United. 
States, ‘The Atlantic Flyway biologist covered parts of ‘the southern Atlantic 
coast; the Mississipri Flyway biologist worked in ‘the lower Mississippi valley; 
the biologist of the Central ETN, confined hig activities to Texas, chiefly 
coastal areas; and the Pacific Flyway ‘biologist. studied conditions mainly in the 
int erior vall Leys of California. 
abe The cueetendine & eature of this work was a finding! concerning the Canada 
goose population of the Mississippi Flyway. Excessive kill.of these birds at 
dopacatice Lake, Tll., if not drastically checked, bids fair to extirpate the 
Plieht of these birds, On the basis of a careful study, it was concluded that 21 
percent of the Mississippi Flyway Canada goose population was killed during the 
1943 hunting season, ‘mostly at Horseshoe. Lake. Although all ‘the factors bearing 
on this ‘kill are not clearly understood, it 1s obvious. ‘that.:; Hauler steps must 
‘be taken to reduce the bag z of e9cee at this locality. 5 
Jeniary Inventory ae TRONS ee 
Because of some seemingly contradictory evidence resulting from the breeding- 
ground surveys and the study of the fall migration, the January inventory was 
awaited with unusual interest, As in the preceding 2 years, the services of many 
former observers were not available, and this necessitated much "doubling up" by 
both Federal and State personnel and resulted in lack of coverage for some areas. 
With the splendid assistance of the Naval Air Sores Coast Guerd, Army Air 
