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all of the intricate factors involved in their preservation, perpetu- ation, and management; and to provide infornation to be used in more accurately depicting the value of fish and ~ildlife resources in con- nection lli th Hater development plans proposed for the Basin. To accomplish t~is, two vildlife study areas ~ere established during the latter part of the year in the Yellowstone River Valley, Montana. One, the Htmtley Wildlife Study Area, was established within the presently irrigated Huntley.Project. Considerable data were secured on wildlife ,resent in this well-established irrigated area, the utilization of the various cover types of wildlife,. and on mortality, particularly of pheasants, resulting from haying operations. The second area, the Seven }ale Flat Study area, was established within an area not now irrigated but proposed for irrigation at an early date. Data similar to -Ghat from the Huntley area were secured from the Seven 11ile Flat area. Eventually, a comparison of the two areas will pro- vide important inforrr~tion on the effects of irrigation on wildlife. Waterfowl inventories, to determine utilization of the Basin by waterfO\.ll,. '.lere initiated in three states. Inventories were conducted in Montana, Nebrasks, and North Dakota. Most enphasis was placed on North Dakota in viel! of ita importance as a waterfowl breeding ground. Data- secured as a resu.lt of \Vaterf01~l inventories will be useful both from the point of vie\-I of the basin-Hide survey and of project inves- tigations. BreedinG ground data secured were submitted to the Regional offices of the Fish and Wildlife Service for use in promulgating water- fOld regulations. Reservoir fishery inv~stigations started in fiscal year 1947 at Ocean Lake, Wyoming, were continued this year. The program was fur- ther expanded to include two additional reservoirs, Lake Maloney in Nebraska .and Fort Peck Reservoir in Hontana. These studies are de- siGned to determine the producti\~tJ of various types of reservoirs and utilization bJr fishermen. Ocean Lake is a natural sunp, filled by waste and seep waters from the Riverton.Irrigation Project; Lake Maloney represents an offstream regulatory, irrigation, and pm~er reservoir, and Fort Peck is an example of a large main stem reservoir. Data secured on Ocean La1-::e in 1947 exemplifies the type of informati.on to be secured by such studies. To facilitate planning of wildlife habitat development in con- mction ,-lith the water development program in the Missouri River Basin, the Fish and Hildlife Service prepared a hypot':1etica1 l1ild- life planting plan and a. preliminary draft of a planting manual during fiscal year 1948. .. . ..., Conferences "Iere held during fiscal year. 1948 with personnel of the f'olIoving listed agencies for the indicated purposes: Montana Fish and Game Departnent - concerning Reservoir Fishery Investi~ation of Fort Peck Reservoir, wildlife 80