On June 10 the moisture was estimated by the Searle Grain Company 
Limited as 77% of normal as compared with 104% at the same time in 1939. 
However, light and scattered showers began the first week in June, and on 
June 7-8 parts of Saskatchewan received the heaviest rain experienced 
during the last ten years. 
Rains continued over the prairies throughout July. Moisture conditions 
in Manitoba improved from 81% of normal on April 22 to 103% on August 10; 
in Saskatchewan from 57% on May 27 to 83% on August 10; and in Alberta from 
86% on June 24 to 95% on August 5. 
It should be understood that evaporation from the sloughs was still 
rapid and many went dry, but in most of them water remained until early 
August. On August 20, a trip was made from Regina to Moose Jaw, Assini- 
boia, Pangman, and return to Regina, a section most of which had been 
covered the first week in June. An estimated 75% of all sloughs had dis-— 
appeared by August 20, and fully 20% of all water remaining was in 
projects of the Prairie Farms Rehabilitation Administration. However, in 
the prairies as a whole, there was no indication of any serious loss of 
ducklings from lack of water; in fact, the evidence points to less than 
the average loss from this cause. Not only was there no important water- 
fowl mortality due to a shortage of water, but the entire 1940 nesting 
season was lacking in wholesale destruction of birds by any adverse 
factors. An outbreak of botulism was reported near Brooks, Alberta, and 
one was observed on the Nettley Marsh, Lake Winnipeg, Manitoba. These 
were, however, insignificant and rapidly decreased in intensity. 
While the northern pike has been accused of wholesale destruction of 
ducklings, and unquestionably it does take them at times, it is interesting 
to examine some comparative figures obtained by Mr. McClanahm on two lakes, 
one containing pike, and the other free of this predator. On the former 
he counted 44 broods averaging 6.47 ducklings, while on the latter he re- 
corded 84 broods, averaging 7.19 ducklings, a difference of only .72 
ducklings. In discounting the effect of these fishes, Mr. McClanahan 
stated in his report "By far the most important factor limiting increase 
was a breeding stock insufficient to occupy the water present, this condition 
being more serious when it is remembered that water areas a_so are reduced 
in both size and number." 
He concluded, however, that "The Prairie Provinces will send slightly 
more waterfowl to southern wintering grounds than in 1939. This increase 
appears to be greatest in the lesser scaup, blue-winged teal, shoveler, 
baldpate, and gadwall, while smaller increases should be noted in the 
mallard, pintail, canvasback, green-winged teal, and ruddy duck." an ex- 
ception to a generally improved status was the redhead which was the only 
species for which he could not report an increase. 
C. E. Gillham, biologist of the Mississippi Flyway, resumed his in- 
vestigations of the great waterfowl breeding grounds of northern Canada. 
7 
