Biologists, like other scientists, so often become engrossed in their subject for the sake of science, that they overlook the application of their field to man's needs. This paper covers just one phase of applied biology in the field of wildlife management. Over two million citizens of our nation went afield to hunt ducks and geese last year. This is five times as many as pursued this sport in 1935. Despite this heavy increase in hunters, last year's waterfowl hunter was allowed to shoot as many or more ducks than a few years ago, and had one of the longest seasons in years. It has been said that man harvests more waterfowl today than during the markethunting years of a half century ago. But that is not all the story. When our forefathers settled our nation, it is estimated there were 120 million acres of marshland, but today through agricultural development and drainage, the amount of waterfowl habitat has shrunken to just one-fifth that former figure. How are we maintaining a waterfowl population on a more or less steady basis in view of these facts? The answer is through modern game management. True, we have been having a series of good waterfowl production years after the drought years of the 1930's, and man has been giving attention to breeding areas both in the United States and Canada. But there are other factors in addition to breeding areas that are essential to maintaining a sound and healthy waterfowl population. Let us take the PAcific Flyway as an example. It is one of four lanes of travel by waterfowl that are set up across our continent for administrative and management purposes. In the United States this flyway embraces the states of Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, Nevada, Arizona and parts of Montana and Utah. Fig. 1 shows, to the best of present day knowledge, the areas in which the ducks of this flyway are produced. Fig. 2 shows how different the distribution of these birds is by January. Basic to caring for these birds in the United States is a sound system of refuges and waterfowl management areas without which we could not hope to maintain a waterfowl population. These areas are strategically located in each of the main centers of waterfowl abundance. Fig. 3 shows the principal waterfowl refuges operated by the U. S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, in this area. Other areas are maintained by the state game departments. ALASKA Z N. ALB. & N.W TERR. 7-7 S.ALBERTA a% SASKATCHEWAN I 6 h 7 1BR. COLUMBIA GZ1 6% MANITOBA S &% SOURCE OF WASHINGTON 14 PACI FIC OREGON =Z14 P F IDAHO E19 % FLYWAY CALIFORNIA E= 3&% NEVADA 1 fi% DUCKS UTAH EI % BASED ON PRELIMINARY MONTANA = 3 0 % ESTIMATES FROM 1954 DATA