50 
Saskatchewan River Delta 
Year .. Ducks per Mile % Incr. or Decr. 
1948 10.2 coate 
1949 32.4 + 217.6% 
1950 9.3 — 71.3% 
The over-all picture indicates that although the population increased in the 
southern areas of the Province, a substantial loss in the north offset this increase. 
The Brood Surveys of the Conservation Officers in southwest Manitoba were 
not completed this year due to bad weather and other important jobs pressing at the 
time. Some information was obtained from Districts 2 and 3, and it showed a sub- 
stantial decrease in broods. The degree of decrease could not be determined from 
the data obtained. However, in District 8, Conservation Officer Krentz was able to 
complete his survey, and his report is quoted below: 
Duck Transects - Summary Minnedosa Pothole Area 
The writer begs to report on the brood count of ducks in the above area. 
Survey began on July 21 and was completed on August 2, 1950. 
Upon examining the information gained from the transects and comparing 
them with last years results, it was found that an alarming decrease exists in some 
areas. The following table shows the number of broods by transects with comparing 
numbers of last year, : 


Transect 1949 1950 Change 
Neepawa to Minnedosa 18 6 Decrease 66% 
Brookdale to Cordova, #10 Highway 73 19 i 74% 
#4 and 10 Highways West to Mile 99 30 24 " 20% 
Rapid City to Basswood 31 28 mu 10% 
Shoal Lake to Hamiota 83 61 " 28% 
Decker to Beulah 31 16 “ 50% 
Binscarth to Angusville 35 39 Increase 11% 
TOTAL 301 193 Decrease 36% 
It will be noted that all transects show a decrease with the exception of the 
last one which shows a small increase, Upon examining the transect information further 
by species, it is found that mallards and pintails are responsible for the decrease. All 
other species show increases or hold on a par with last year. All species, with the 
exception of pintails show an increase on the last transect (Binscarth to Angusville). 
The following table shows the brood comparison of mallards and pintails. 


Mallards Pintails 
Transect 1949 1950 1949 1950 
Neepawa to Minnedosa — &9 1 5 1 
Brookdale to Cordova 19 3 9 0 
#4 and 10 Highways West to Mile 99 13 5 8 Fe 
Rapid City to Basswood 11 6 4 2 
Shoal Lake to Hamiota 29 12 12 6 
Decker to Beulah 14 7 7 0 
Binscarth to Angusville 12 13 7 4 
TOTALS 107 . 47 52 15 
Over-all Decrease ...... chi See es S :) ME 
