the following day. Here, in the delta of the Athabaska River, two weeks 
were spent studying waterfowl conditions. 
In reporting upon their observations in the Far North, Mr. Gillham 
states that while many factors have received the blame for reduction in 
the number of birds, his studies have convinced him that, as regards the 
nesting grounds in high latitudes "The greatest damage to waterfowl is 
done by the uncontrollable hazard of unfavorable weather, and the con- 
trollable factor of overshooting." The effects of climatic conditions 
were clearly demonstrated in the spring of 1940 when a severe freeze came 
on shortly after nesting started. Immediately the birds deserted the 
coastal breeding grounds and returned within the delta, where open water 
could be found. This delayed hatching two weeks and resulted in small 
broods of young. By way of illustration, Gillham Island in 1939 carried 
300 nests of the snow goose, averaging 4.6 eggs per nest, while in 1940 
this island had 402 nests that averaged only 3.75 eggs per nest. 
A certain amount of predation from jaegers was recorded but Mr. 
Gillham points out that the local concentration of these birds was un- 
doubtedly due to the large number of goose eggs scattered promiscuously 
over the ground as a result of the late spring storm. Arctic foxes were 
decidedly rare and no snowy owls were recorded. A brood of American rough- 
legged hawks were fed lemmings to the exclusion of everything else. 
In 1939, 83 nests of the black brant were under observation, while in 
1940, 108 were checked. As with the snow geese, the average number of eggs 
per nest vas about one egg less in 1940 than in 1939. 
In addition to the snow geese and black brant, Mr. Gillham found 
scaups (apparently greater), pintails, shovelers, baldpates, mallards, 
green-winged teals, and Canadian and white-fronted geese on this Arctic 
breeding ground. While natives and white trappers seemed to agree that 
more waterfowl were seen in 1940 than in 1939, it was Mr. Gillham's own 
opinion that a somewhat smaller number of ducks were noted. 
In the delta of the Athabaska River, comparison of the status of ducks 
with that of former years was made difficult because of extremely low 
water. Ever since the beginning of the waterfowl restoration program 
there has been a steady increase in the number of birds using the 2,500 
square miles included in this area which is easily one of the finest 
waterfowl breeding areas on the North American continent. In 1940 many 
lakes formerly visited were entirely dry or nearly so, and navigation, even 
in the smallest craft, was impossible. The low water did not, however, 
have any adverse effect on the ducks and geese and Mr. Gillham reported 
that it probably increased the available cover, though cover probably is 
never lacking in this region. 
It was his own opinion supported by that of the natives, that there 
had again been an increase in the numbers of birds, At Mud Lake a great 
increase in canvasbacks was noted, while mallards, pintails, blue-winged 
