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larger lakes on June 2, in the Ashwanipi area, and was not out until the 7th of 
June. West of Ashwanipi and Knob Lakes most of the lakes were free at the time 
mentioned above. 
The Ganadian goose and duck nesting areas south of James Bay and 
western Quebec were very dry. Muskegs showed little water. The Bagotville 
area, on the other hand, as well as local areas in eastern Quebec and Labrador, 
had very heavy winter snows and plenty of moisture. In these areas water condi- 
tions held up good during the summer. 
In the open boreal and forest tundra area, a number of this summer's 
burns extended as far as one could see. Kapuskasing area had the hottest and 
driest June on record. Quebec, as a whole, averaged 40 to 50 percent below the 
normal rainfall, and five to 10 degrees above normal in temperature for June. 
Labrador was above normal in temperature by five degrees and had 50 percent of 
normal rainfall in June. Several large lakes were down five feet or more and 
muskegs were very dry in areas east of Knob Lake. Despite lower water conditions 
satisfactory nesting conditions prevailed in most areas, 
Breeding Pair Survey 
In comparing 1955 to last year's breeding populations, noticeable declines 
can be seen in practically all species of ducks. Tables I and II present a compar- 
ison of 1954 - 1955 data for comparable areas. The only species showing an 
increase was scaup. The general decline may be due to the later season in 
eastern portions of Quebec and Labrador where, at the time of the survey it 
appeared that all of the breeding populations had not arrived. In addition, the dry 
conditions may have altered normal nesting populations to the extent that these 
ducks were present in other areas of Canada. Very little of western Quebec 
above 52 degrees of latitude was covered. Birds may have been in that area due 
to a Slow break-up in the eastern areas. Total ducks were down 23 percent from 
last year, while favored ducks were down only 14 percent. 
Canada geese were down 53 percent by our findings. Glimatic conditions 
probably did not move nesting populations to any extent. However, it may have 
retarded certain flights so that we did not pick them up on their nesting areas. 
Several late flights of Canada geese were reported to us while we were flying the 
nesting area transects. 
Production Survey 
For purposes of determining average duck brood size only complete 
broods seen were used in arriving at the figures in Table III. The average duck 
brood size was 4.60. 
