and results had to be interpreted accordingly. Methods for obtaining 
better distribution of the samples are being considered for use in 
future wing collections, 
Seasonal Distribution of the Sample 
It seems likely that hunters are less inclined to send in wings 
as the season progresses. Thus, the seasonal distribution of wings 
received probably does not exactly parallel the seasonal distri- 
bution of the total kill. It seems reasonable to assume, however, 
that if envelopes are supplied in the same quantity each year, and 
requests are made in the same way, the bias can be regarded as a 
constant, and indexes can be obtained that will be valid. Furthermore, 
if the season is broken into several periods,and the ratios from each 
period are properly weighted, then the bias should be decreased. It 
should be possible to weight these periodic samples from supplemental 
informtion on the true distribution of the kill. This supplemental 
information might come either from band-recovery data or from the 
results of a Mail Questionnaire Survey. No attempt was made to 
weight the data this year because of the unavailability of banding 
records. Seasonal distribution of samples from locker plants and 
hunters' bags is likely to be even more biased than the seasonal 
distribution of the wing-collection samples. Locker-plant examinations 
and bag checks are likely to be a function of the effort expended by 
biologists or cooperators and are not necessarily related to the true 
distribution of the kill. Age ratios calculated by combining all of 
the observations throughout the entire season are likely to be con- 
siderably in error because of the improper weight given to each period's 
sample. For example, the age ratios in the wing collection at the 
Central and Crane Lake Clubs,in Illinois, showed significant differences 
between periods, and 37 per cent of the sample was taken in two days, 
November 18 and 30. Since age ratios on those days were much lower 
than during the remainder of the season, there is a real question 
whether these low ratios should receive as much weight as they do 
when all the observations are simply added together to obtain the 
final age ratio. 
Regardless of the sampling method, it may be necessary to devise 
some method of weighting the-.data from each period. If a suitable 
method for weighting the data cannot be found, then it seems necessary, 
at least, to follow a sampling procedure that will tend to distribute 
the sample in a constant manner throughout the season each year. 
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