
130 
is behind last year. Species such as Canada goose and merganser were seen in 
small numbers while earlier migrants such as blue-winged teal and ringnecks were 
still showing up strongly. 
The position of the black duck is not quite so clear. The smaller 
number seen this year could be attributed to dispersal of local birds as well as a 
delay in arrivals from the north. 
Pre-Hunting Season Surveys 
New Brunswick-Nova Scotia 

Prince Edward Island Border Transects 
Species 1953.~—S:i«<C*SH ASC i954. ~—SOStSC«SY:SS 
Canada Goose 450 469 100 - - 
Black Duck 8,900 10,792 6,392 952 578 
Pintail 63 56 33 17 29 
G-w. Teal - 1,839 832 283 150 
B-w. Teal - 205 1,991 252 325 
"Teal"! 250 - - - - 
Ringneck 500 184 1,502 32 204 
Goldeneye 30 - 57 - - 
Merganser 6,400 1, 847 336 2 - 
Fider - 87 - - - 
Scoter 400 289 95 - - 
Unidentified 
and Others 150 89 425 7 14 
Total 17, 143 15,857 11,763 1,545 1, 300 
Favored Sporting 
Species * 10, 343 13,634 11,332 1,543 1, 300 
* Exclusive of mergansers, eiders, and scoters. 
Summary 
The 1955 breeding season was generally good for both early and late 
nesting species. The dry weather has caused many of the smaller marsh areas to 
dry up and the autumn concentrations of ducks may be confined to the larger areas 
of habitat such as the lower Saint John River. 
