127 
duck and pintail, Scaup, merganser and scoter were down noticeably throughout 
eastern Canada. Comparable data were obtained on shoreline counts and a summary 
of the information is shown in Table III. At present a lack of understanding between 
the relationship of waterfowl along shorelines and what they represent in relation 
to breeding populations has made it difficult to interpret or analyze the shoreline 
data for significant trends. 
Production Survey 
The second aerial survey of waterfowl production in Quebec and Labrador was 
conducted from July 6 to 30. There was a marked reduction in the data obtained on 
this year's production as compared with that of 1953. Although indicated production 
was materially down, this year's spring breeding populations were above those of 
1954 so that a good carryover of adult birds could be expected. The data indicated 
that not only was the number of duck broods down from 1953 (39 percent), but also, 
because of a drop in brood size, that the total young produced dropped 49 percent as 
compared with last year (Table IV). Potential later production based on singles and 
pairs on territory indicated about the same as 1953. No significant trend was 
apparent in the Canada goose production in Quebec and Labrador between 1953 and 
1954 (Table V). 
A total of 606 lineal miles of shoreline were covered during the production 
survey period. One count was taken along the north shore of the St. Lawrence River 
from the mouth of the Saguenay River to Seven Islands. Another shoreline count was 
made from Port Harrison north along the east shore of Hudson Bay to the 59° 40! 
parallel. Two shoreline counts were made in Ungava Bay, one from the 59° 40! 
parallel near Payne Bay to the mouth of the Koksoak River in which the course flown 
was about five miles inland from the shore; the other along the east shore from the 
mouth of the Koksoak River to 59° 13'N and 65° 30' W. These data are summarized 
in Table VI. 
Summary of Breeding Grounds Survey 
Aerial coverage of the Eastern Canada waterfowl breeding grounds in 1954 was 
comparable with 1953. Weather and water conditions were inconsistent over the 
breeding grounds and may have been an important factor influencing the production. 
The 1954 breeding population of ducks was above that of 1953 while the goose popula- 
tion was somewhat lower. Duck production was irregular and noticeably reduced in 
1954 as compared to 1953. Goose production, on the other hand, was fair and 
compared favorably with 1953. ; 
