MANAGEMENT OF THE CHESAPEAKE BAY'S 
WATERFOWL RESOURCES 
LONG-TERM TRENDS (1948-86) OF WINTERING WATERFOWL 
IN CHESAPEAKE BAY 
by 
Dr. Matthew C. Perry 
Patuxent Wildlife Research Center 
Few areas in the world have been as historically famous as 
Chesapeake Bay for wintering waterfowl. This 180 mile long bay, 
with 4,000 miles of shoreline and extensive shoal water areas 
for feeding, provided optimum habitats for millions of waterfowl 
during winter. Accounts by sportsmen and naturalists relate how 
the water areas were covered with ducks. From approximately 
1880 to 1910, waterfowl wintering on the Chesapeake Bay 
sustained the largest market hunting business known to man. 
Waterfowl were killed by the thousands and stuffed into barrels 
for transport by train to the major cities in the east. 
A decreasing number of waterfowl in the Chesapeake Bay early 
in the 20th century aroused concern among Americans, and in 1918 
market hunting was outlawed with the historically important 
treaty between the United States of America (USA) and Great 
Britain (for Canada). Waterfowl populations began to slowly 
increase in North America until the drought of the 1930s, 
coupled with excessive drainage of northern breeding areas, 
resulted in population declines and again aroused the public to 
the plight of our waterfowl. New hunting regulations in 1935 
outlawed the use of live decoys and bait while hunting. The now 
well-known "duck stamp" program was initiated in 1935 to provide 
funds to establish more waterfowl refuges in the USA. 
During the 1960-80s, the public became increasingly con¬ 
cerned about environmental pollution impacts on waterfowl habi¬ 
tats. The Chesapeake Bay, with hugh metropolitan areas on the 
western shore, received the brunt of this abuse, resulting in 
continued degradation of habitat. It was during this period 
that biologists became poignantly aware that SAV was disappear¬ 
ing in many areas of the Bay (Bayley, et al. 1978). Parts of 
some rivers, especially in the Upper Bay region, became totally 
devoid of plants. 
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