242 
As is usually the case each year, considerable local fluctuation occurred, 
Throughout eastern Maine as a whole the population showed little change, due largely 
to the fact that a decrease occurred on the Moosehorn Refuge for the second straight 
year; it may be that a saturation point has been reached on the portion of the Refuge 
that was developed for woodcock several years ago. In northern, western, and 
southern Maine, substantial increases were observed. Massachusetts had an increase 
on most of the census areas and a very heavy increase at Newburyport; only the Leverett 
area in Franklin County had fewer birds. In New York, substantial gains occurred in 
Albany, Rensselaer, Jefferson and Chenango Counties, with the State as a whole 
presenting a satisfactory outlook. Connecticut's losses were most noticeable in ‘ 
Tolland County. Favorable woodcock populations were found throughout most of 
Vermont except in Rutland County where a heavy decrease was evident; the State as a 
whole showed a decrease. New Hampshire recorded a slight loss. 
It was of interest to note that, except for Massachusetts and New York - 
where gains were registered both years - the various State population trends of 1950 
showed the reverse of 1949; that is, those States recording increases a year ago had 
decreases this year, and vice versa, This well illustrates the need for as many census 
areas as possible in each of the States of the Northeast in order to establish reasonably 
accurate annual trends. 
