
ATIANTIC FIYWAY - Continued 
and many of them were from 3 to 5 weeks old. It is believed that 
this indicates that the rate of production will be low in this 
important northern breeding area. 
Overall, it is anticipated that there will be at least 
a moderate decrease in the fall flight of ducks from the low 
population level of last year. It is estimated that there will 
be a drastic reduction in the flight of canvasbacks and redheads, 
The 1959 breeding population of Canada geese, as 
measured by the annual winter survey, remained about the same as 
last year. Therefore, it is estimated that the fall flight will 
remain about the same. However, attention is called to the fact 
that there has been a gradual decrease in the population of 
Canadas during the past 4 years and the 1959 wintering population 
was 41 percent below the peak level reached in 1955. 
A small increase was recorded in the wintering popula- 
tion of American brant. The population trend of this species 
has been generally upward during the past 11 years. On this 
basis, it is estimated that there will be a small increase in 
the fall flight of brant this fall. 
Due to a drastic decrease in the amount of breeding 
habitat and in the production of coot, it is estimated that 
there will be a drastic reduction in the fall flight of this 
species. 
168 
INT.DUP. ,D.C.59-59379 
