
SOUTHERN SASKATCHEWAN - Continued 
Production Tndices 
Broods were at a very low figure. They were dow 58 
percent from 195% and down 71 percent from the six-year average 
(1952-1957). The only previous year that had a low compared to 
this was 1954. The number of ducklings per Class III brood 
stood at 3.74%. This was the lowest rate ever recorded in the 
past ten years of operation in this area. It compared to 4,3 
ducklings per brood in July of 1958. Combining Class II and IIT 
broods it was noted that the rate stood 4.0 for the average 
brood size. This compared to 4.16 for last year and 5.9 for the 
six-year average. Broods per square mile were 0.93 compared to 
2.2 in 1958. From the record, 1958 was below 1957 to the extent 
of 59 percent in numbers of broods. 
Indications were that late broods would be more 
numerous in the northwest and northeast strata. In the other 
strata later broods were not appearing and there the prospects 
looked dim for these classes. Of the total broods seen the 
classes were broken down as follows: Class I - 30.5 percent, 
Class II - 38.7 percent, Class III - 30.8 percent indicating a 
fairly even distribution of broods at this time. 
Coot broods were down 75 percent from 1958 and down 92 
percent from the six-year average. There was certainly a lack 
of coots as well as coot broods. A number of larger marshes 
held a good supply of coots but nesting intentions of these 
individuals was problematical. No indications from these con- 
centrations showed any nesting efforts. Unless production of 
coots is tremendous in the well-watered areas to the far north 
and east a major decline in the coot flight is indicated. 
The late nesting index (numbers of lone drakes, hens, 
and pairs still remaining on the transects at this period) was 
down 54 percent from last year. It was felt that this years' 
low late nesting Index would not. under the declining water 
levels, offer any better showing in late broods than last year, 
which was poor in spite of a large late nesting index. This 
being the case, we can look for little or no encouragement in 
this nesting effort to bring up the production in late nesting 
species or in late re-nesting attempts. For further detailes 
note Tables 5 through 7. 
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