32274 



In Manitoba, Mr. Smith worked in the Net ley Marshes at the south end 

 of Lake Winnipeg, the Delta Marshes at the south end of Lake Manitoba, 

 Portage Creek, Big Grass Marsh, the pot-holes and sloughs northwest of 

 Minnedosa, the area south of Rock Lake, The Pas district with its many 

 lakes, creeks, and other waterways, and the Saskatchewan River to its delta. 

 In Saskatchewan he visited lakes and sloughs near Moose Jaw, Buffalo Pond 

 Lake, the Qu'Appelle-' Valley and" Ana. River, Last Mountain Lake, Stalwart 

 Marsh, Little Manitou -Lake, Waterhen Lake, and many other, lakes, ponds 

 and marshes of lesser importance,. Operations -in 'Alberta included, work at 

 Many Island,. Cassils, Stafford, Corvoki, and -New ell 'Lakes, Mr,, Soper gave 

 particular .attention to this.provin.de and in it' their combined -. reports show r 

 that detailed examinations: were made, of . between 25 and 30/ lakes. 



-At Edmonton, Mr, Smith had, made arrangements' to proceed by air to Fort 

 Chipewyan on Lake Athabasca, "but for. several days the-, smoke from muskeg fires 

 to the north was so "dense that all flights were cancelled. . ' ■■•' 



In September Mr, Soper again visited "The- Pas district in. Manitoba for 

 a reexamination of many of the areas.- visited earlier in the season by Mr. 

 Smith,. :Vt ... ' 



Waterfowl' conditions In -the ^Prairie Province's during the; ..summer of 194-2 

 were somewhat confusing. In general there was much. more water, •' For example, 

 in Manitoba water conditions, were the best in years with' almost' continuous 

 rains during June and July. Jn this "Province'-' ducks had definitely increased. 

 In his. report, Mr, Smith listed larger numbers of the Pintail,' Blue-winged 

 Teal, Shoveller, Baldpate, Redhead, Canvasback, and Ruddy Duck. Neverthe- 

 less, he could find no change in the numerical status of the Gadwall, Green- 

 winged Teal,, Lesser Scaup, Goldeneye, 'arid '.White-winged Scoter while he found 

 evidence of a decrease in the number' of Mallards, \- 



. ... . "In Saskatchewan water '• conditions throughout the Province had improved 

 1 since 194-1* but in most cases it ,came during June and July, filling the 

 sloughs and pot-holes aft er; the: spring migration, .An -exception 'was noted 

 in the southeast corner where ; ,heavy spring snows : added to the residue : from 

 19-4.1 ;t.o present nesting conditions that were fairly, satisfactory when the 

 birds' arrived in' the spring; Consequently, ducks were abundant all through 

 the south, but north of Moose Jaw and Regina, ■ they wer6 no '.more abundant 

 than In 1941 and some local observers claimed a decrease. As compared with 

 Manitoba, Mr. Smith reported that the scarcity of Redheads was striking, 



. . The situation in Alberta. was- similar, late water supplies doing little 

 •to attract migrating ducks -and. geese in search -df a, suitable breeding environ- 

 ment. As a result bf' his "study Mr. Smith 'concluded 'that" Alberta" should be 

 listed in the "no change" classification, Mr'."Soper indicated .agreement by 

 reporting the waterfowl situation in this province as "indifferent.",' 



The combined reports of these two officers cover 279 typewritten pages, 

 with a wealth of detail. They may.be summarized by the following .concluding 

 statement by Mr, Smiths , •- ■ -'"'!•'': 



