arear ranging from very slightly acid to atrongly basic. The clear, rocky 
Jakes ranged in pH fram about 4.2 to 6.2, The dark-water, muskeg types of 
lake examined in the New Srunewick-Nova Scotia border area had a pH of 6.3, 
Many nrotuctive fresh mareanes were found to have a pH ranging from about 
7,0 to &.4 or above. All of the waters on Prince Edward Island were found 
to he alkaline, with a lush aquatic vegetation (pondweeda, etc.)}. Mach the 
same condition was founc on a number of areme near the border between Fova 
Scotie anc New Brunewick and in the productive Haepton marshee of the lover 
St. John River area. 
Although the data are not glven here, there seemea to be little 
correlation between the breeding birds recorded by the epring ground gurvey 
and the breocs and adults recorded during the eummer period on the same areae. 
Thie 1s probably due to the presence of apring traneients.and to the fact 
that the dense eummer Vegetation makes it next ta imposeible to see more than 
a tortion of the broods in thia type of eurvey. It ia alec known that broods 
frequently are oot rafsed on the same areas on which nesting territories are 
f#atablished. 
Co-operator Ground Survey in U. 3.3 Table 3 gives by atates the number of 
observers, number of arese covered and the number of adulta, broods and the 
nversce size of brood for important apecites. Eetween states the arerage sie 
of tlack duck brood varied conelderably, from a low of 4.7 to a high of &.4, 
The reason for this cannot be explained at the moment. The all-atate averege 
wae 6,4. Ar over-all average of 6.6 held for ring-neck broods, and 6.7 fer 
wood ducks. Mallard production is reetricted largely to New Tork, Fenneylvania, 
end Maryland. The over-all average brood size was 7,3, Other apecies occur 
in very limited rnombere in the Northeast, but the data available show a 
comparable production from the standpoint of brood eise. 
Broods were recorded under the uweual age-claas groupe, I, IT, Till. In 
thie report all age classes are lumped together. With the exception of the 
ring-neck, all these age clasfee are represented for important species. The 
majority of ring-neck broode are Clase I and IIT. Ina eubsequent departmental 
report these age clasaea and other deta will be treated separately and in more 
detall. 
Weather and Water Conditions 
Although most of the Northeast auffered extreme drought throughout the 
spring and summer, it i¢ believed that neeting conditions were excellent. 
Thie ie haved on the authors! observations and on reports ftom many obeervers, 
beth in the states and in Canada. In some yeara a awift Tise in water levels 
in late spring hae been an important cause of nest lossee. This year water 
levels remained down. Even with the $8t. John River in New Erunswick water 
levele were far below normal. This river usually bas drastic rines in water 
level in the late spring. Many small water areas dried up completely, but in 
the Northenst there are usually ample major water areag nearby, suitable for 
ducks. 
Summary of Banding Cperations 
During the course of the Canadian ground work 193 ducks (moatly flight- 
Lesa young) were banded. The dietribution by spectes isi Black duck 89, 
pintail 3, freen-winged teal 7, blue-winged teal 3, and wood duck 1. 
92 
