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North of the height of land in Quebec the terrain is largely flat or gentle - 
rolling with occasional mountains cropping up. Generally speaking as one progresses 
northward the number of ponds and lakes increases materially until in the tundra it 
seems that there is nearly as much water as land. Table III gives an idea of the 
relative distribution of water areas in the various regions flown this year. 
A most valuable aid in the surveys with the Widgeon was a Dictaphone 
voice recorder to which both pilot and observer had earphones and hand micro- 
phones installed. This equipment was instrumental not only in improving the 
accuracy and detail of observations on waterfowl but made it possible to record all 
caribou, moose, deer and other wildlife, describe the country traversed by transects, 
list the number of water areas encountered within the transects and record time at 
10-minute intervals. Likewise, an Audopraph Disc Recorder was used with success 
in the Fleet Canuck on the summer production surveys in the Maritime Provinces. 
Weather and Water Conditions 
Maritime Provinces 
For the second successive year, water and weather conditions have been 
favourable for wintering and breeding waterfowl. The season was about a week to 
ten days later than last year. 
A relatively mild winter was marked by a record-breaking snowfall 
received mostly during periodic storms. In some northern areas and at points of 
higher altitude there was still snow on the ground at the end of May. The spring 
break-up was later and ice did not clear from the fresh-water areas and rivers 
until the first week of April with most areas being open by April 15. The spring 
runoff was gradual and sustained, although water levels were generally higher 
there were no extreme flood conditions as might have been expected. Relatively 
low precipitation during April and early May, fairly constant temperatures and the 
lack of frost in the ground were no doubt beneficial. Consequently the loss of early 
nests to flood conditions is thought to have been at a minimum. 
A cool and rainy period developed the last week of May and the first week 
of June and may have had some limited affect on nesting. In the St. John River 
System, where water levels are an important factor in nesting success, particularly 
with respect to ring-necked ducks, a rise of several feet during this wet spell may 
have flooded some nests. 
The latter part of June and July were noted primarily as hot and dry with 
unusually clear weather. 
Ontario, Quebec and Labrador 
Although weather conditions vary somewhat from one part of this vast 
area to another, most of the territory experienced above average temperatures 
with ample precipitation throughout the winter and spring. The impression was 
gathered during the course of the survey in talking with local people that the season 
was retarded 10 days to 2 weeks in southeastern Quebec, whereas in the Ungava 
area the season was reported to be earlier than usual, It seems that the far 
northern areas opened at least as soon as the southern Quebec country, if not before. 
