heights distance about the tree leaving the impression that soot is falling.
Examination of the material under a microscope quickly reveals the spores
and/or mycelium of these fungi.

-Author’s Note: The author is indebted to Thaddée Renault of Forestry Canada
Maritimes Region Forest/Tree Pest Extension Service for the provision of the
following references. :
Blanchard & Tattar. Diseases: Sooty Mold in Field and Laboratory Guide
to Tree Pathology.
Holmes, F.W. 1972. Sooty-molds and Trees. The Commonwealth of
Massachusetts.
Tattar. Sooty Molds in Diseases of Shade Trees,
Wescott. Sooty Mold in Plant Disease Handbook.

THE MOUNT STEWART WHALE STORY by Bruce Pigot

The beluga whale is typically an inshore species often ascending the
larger rivers and estuaries. It ranges in length from nine to eighteen feet.
When it reaches its fourth year it turns milk white.

Newsy Notes by Blythe Hurst, August 23, 1941 documented the occurrence
of two belugas on Prince Edward Island. The first was taken at Vernon River
on May 26, 1938. It was twelve feet long and had an extreme girth of
eighty-four inches. The other was taken at Mount Stewart on August 6, 1941,
measured sixteen feet long and weighed about a ton. On inquiry, I can find no
recent record of a live beluga in P.E.I. waters. The St. Lawrence population
seen here is isolated from the other seven populations in Canada. At present
its numbers may be in the low hundreds. This, along with reduction and
alteration of habitat, population disturbance, and possible affects of
environmental contamination or competition with other species, bestowes upon
it the distinction of being an endangered race.

It has been protected under the beluga protection regulations of the
Fisheries Act since March, 1979. This act outlaws all forms of hunting,
killing, chasing, or willful disturbance of these whales.

During the time the Mount
Stewart beluga was shot, World War II
was raging in the world. Conditions
in Bristol, England are pertinent to
the story. Winston Churchill visited
there April 5, 1941. He gives an eye
witness account of a situation that
was common to both sides of the
conflict. "There had been a heavy air
raid on the city the previous night.
The air raid services were feverously
at work, and people were still being
dug out of the ruins." Such
conditions sparked headlines which
prompted a move on P.E.I. to raise
funds for the bombed victims.

Mount Stewart has never lacked hunters. An eyewitness account
(Guardian, August 8, 1941) states "spying a large white object in the river
between the highway and railway bridges, they hurriedly got shotguns and
rifles, and succeeded in killing a beluga whale. The whale was retrieved from
the bottom by spearing its tail with an eel spear, then its tail was tied to a
rope secured to a punt, and the punt was then rowed to shore. A small tractor
proved unequal to the task of towing it ashore, a large truck succeeded, then

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