MARITIME PROVINCES.z 
Weather and Water Conditions - 
The spring of 1954 was about a week late, after a fairly mild winter. 
The spring break-up of ice in the rivers was a little late and ice remained 
in the lakes longer than usual. 
In May and June the hours of sunshine were reported below normal. 
The water run-off was above normal this year and the annual 
freshet of the Saint John River rose about 22 feet above mean summer 
level. Wet weather in late May and June has caused another rise in 
water level which has probably flooded some ground nests. 
The wet weather has continued on throughout the summer to date, 
causing the water levels to be considerably above normal. 
Breeding Population Indices - 
Aerial coverage of breeding populations was carried out again by 
the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Table I gives a comparison of this 
year's results with 1952 and 1953. 
Table I - Breeding Population Trends - 1952-1954 
Black Ducks Total Game Ducks 
Coverage 1952 1953 1954 1952 1953 1954 
Birds per square mile 
Inland Transects 
(1) Boreal Forest 0.94 0.84 0.94 1.48 1.14 1.24 
(2) Northeastern 
Wildlife Station Study Area -- 6.68 13.70 -- 13.29 23.16 
Birds per linear mile 
Shoreline Counts 4.00 6.10 4,05 5.24 7.44 5.60 
As will be seen from this table, an increase was noted in the inland 
transects, including the boreal forest and the Saint John River Study Area. 
The shoreline counts, however, presenta different picture. The decrease 
shown here can be partly accounted for by the drop in the numbers of black 
ducks in the coastal concentrations. 
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