At one time all the holes had frozen over, and the grain was placed on the 
bare ice, the ducks coming in from the lake and lighting on the ice to feed. 
This was at a distance of about a quarter of a mile from the open water 
in the lake. On February 21, being temporarily out of wheat, cracked 
corn was tried, but the ducks apparently did not relish it, and did not 
clean it up, as they did the wheat. During a period from February 12 to 
16, Mr. DeVille estimated the number of ducks was at least ten thousand. 
They gradually scattered with the coming of milder weather, but there 
were several thousand still present on March 18. 
The ducks were about seventy-five per cent Bluebills, or Scaups, the 
remainder being about evenly divided between Canvasbacks and Red- 
heads, with a few Whistlers. 
On March 13 when the writer visited the bay he counted in an open 
place between the outlet of the bay and Sand Point, about five hundred 
Bluebills, one hundred Redheads, a few Canvasbacks, about a dozen 
Mallard, three or four Black Ducks and several Holbcell’s and Horned 
Grebes. At this time the ducks were apparently able to take care of them- 
selves, were feeding in the usual manner, and did not come for the grain. 
Mr. DeVille stated that the ducks were in such poor condition, that he 
had seen many with ice frozen to their feathers, the wing feathers being 
sometimes frozen together. Many also had balls of ice over the bill, often 
extending to the eyes. Fourteen ducks were found dead, eleven Bluebills, 
one Canvasback and two Redheads. One Bluebill drake found in full 
plumage weighed one pound and three ounces. 
Great credit must be given to both Mr. DeVille, who is a game protector 
of a type we need more of, and the New York State Conservation Com- 
mission, for their prompt action in this matter, for there is no doubt that 
if they had not acted in time, thousands of ducks would have dial of starva- 
tion. — H. E. Gordon, Rochester, N. Y. 4Sj0IS Wwi !r*» $ 
