199 
reservoirs, and sloughs had low water levels at the beginning of the breeding season, 
and some permanent bodies were dry for the first time in many years. This 
situation was never alleviated by precipitation during the late spring and summer. 
In contrast, duck breeding populations were only slightly below those of 
1953 (12 percent), and very similar to those of 1952 (down one percent). Geese 
populations were down about 17 percent this year from the two previous years. 
Production records for ducks, however, reflect the drouth conditions by a 
decrease in the number of young of about 19 percent from 1952, and almost 37 per- 
cent from 1953. Although no collected data are available for geese, it is believed 
that production for this species was somewhat less than 1953, and slightly above 
thatfor 1952, 
