among the waterfowl breeding grounds of the continent. Nevertheless, it 

 appears that were it not for Alaska there would be little shooting of 

 duoks and geese for sport anywhere in the Paoifio Flyway. This is defi- 

 nitely indioated by the recovery reoords of pintails and wigeons (the 

 ohief speoies of game duoks on the Paoifio coast) that have been banded 

 at stations in California. It is true that some duoks from the central 

 and northern nesting grounds of Canada cross the mountains and fly south- 

 ward along the coast, but the number of these is but a fraction of the 

 Paoifio ooast birds that summer in Alaska. 



Following some preliminary investigations of the northward migration, 

 which were made in the deltas of the Copper and Behring Rivers, as well 

 as on the Susitna Flats near Anchorage, the Survey biologist went by air- 

 plane to Fairbanks, the starting point for the long trip down the Yukon 

 River. Summer studies of waterfowl populations and habitats were made in 

 the valleys of the Yukon, Kuskokwim, Tanana, Innoko, and Iditarod, as well 

 as in other rivers of lesser importance. When the work was oonoluded in 

 the twin deltas of the Yukon and Kuskokwim, a reoonnaissanoe was made north 

 to the delta of the Noatak River, tributary to Kotzebue Sound. 



The investigations in Alaska were carried out in the closest coopera- 

 tion with, and by the constant aid of, the Alaska Game Commission* Agents, 

 boats, and planes, some of the last named privately owned by the wildlife 

 agents, were always made available, thus enabling Goldman to reach areas 

 the inspection of which he could not otherwise have attempted. 



In trying to visualize the extent of these far northern breeding 

 grounds, "vast" is the only term that seems adequate* A waterfowl habitat, 

 literally hundreds, if not thousands, of square miles in extent and as 

 good today as it was a hundred years ago, calls for a stock of birds to 

 use it* Not only are the oover conditions ideal but also some of the 

 choicest food plants suoh as sago and other pondweeds occur there in abun- 

 dance. On this subject Goldman says* "Vegetation grows in profusion at 

 low elevations in Alaska, even on the Arctic tundras* Many sloughs* * , 

 abound in pondweeds of whioh it is said there are 12 speoies in the Terri- 

 tory* Sago pondweed and a olasping-leaved speoies are common representa- 

 tives* Milfoil, white water buttercup, and goosegrass ( Equisetum ), grow 

 in abundance •" 



In commenting on the status of the birds during the svmmer of 1939, 

 Goldman summarises his own experiences and the reports made to him by the 

 wildlife agents of the Alaska Game Commission and others. The consensus 

 was that there was a distinct improvement in the numerical status of the 

 geese, swans, and cranes* The duok population was considered satisfactory, 

 but no conspicuous gains over the 1938 figures were noted* He cautions 

 against overrating the signs of improvement for the reason that the Alas- 

 kan nesting grounds are still greatly underpopulated. 



