269 
Success of the Season 
Aerial transects were flown in July on dates established by the Waterfowl 
Biometry Office at Patuxent Research Refuge. These dates were determined from 
data accumulated in past years and, under normal conditions, would probably have 
given a good sample of waterfowl production. However, as is shown in Table III, 
only one brood was found on the transects on July 7, 1954 as compared with 18 seen 
on July 6, 1953. Such a reduction can only be attributed to the transects being run 
at the wrong time. This was proved in Maryland, where the transects run on the 
specified date showed results similar to those obtained in Delaware, while the same 
transects run two weeks latér showed results comparable to those obtained in 1953. 
Data from the ground study area in Primehook Neck showed a reduction in 
broods, but nothing comparable to the drop shown by the transect data. Here total 
production was 13 broods in 1954. The four-year average for the area is 16.5 
broods. Table IV contains data from 1951 through 1954 on the Primehook Study Area. 
