A rather sharp decrease in the Flyway black duck popula- 
tion was nearly equalled by an increase in the lower Atlantic 
Fiyway. Whether this is happenstance or cause and effect is 
uncertain. 
The population of canvasback and redhead continued to 
decrease despite the restrictions in the bag limit last fall. 
Although a moderate increase was recorded for scaup, due to the 
problems of adequately censusing this species, there is question as 
to whether or not the data properly reflects a trend in population. 
A moderate decrease was recorded for the blue goose. The 
Canada goose population increased slightly and reached the highest 
levels that have been recorded since the annual winter survey was 
initiated ‘in 1935. 
The two tables which follow compare the 1958 and 1959 data 
by area and by species. 
In the graph which follows the tables are presented trend 
data for ducks, geese, and coot for the period 1949 to 1959. 
Although coverage during the period has not been strictly compara- 
ble, the data have been adjusted to make them as comparable as pos- 
sible. Generally speaking, there has been a slight upward trend in 
the wintering populations of ducks during the ll-year period. The 
_ goose population has remained relatively stable although the popula- 
‘ tion during the last years has been somewhat above the average of 
the previous 5 years. Coot populations seemed to have fluctuated 
considerably during the period, although since 1953, there seems to 
have been a fairly consistent recovery from the low point reached 
in that year. 
Percent Change from 1958 to 1959 in Duck, Goose, Swan and 
Coot Populations in the Mississippi Flyway (Comparable 





Coverage ) 
Area. Ducks Geese Swan Coot Total 
Ontario f 2° - 29 - ~ fl 
Mississippi 
Flyway States fj 2 ~ 5 gO OF ae po rs 
TOTAL f 2 - 5 - 27 ~ 2 f il 

103 
