you’re looking for a few clams. You have to be careful not to cut your ﬁngers on old shells and you may want to wear a cotton or rubber glove for protection.

Clams have some other interesting characteristics, which are not commonly known. Did you know that razor clams are able to move from place to place? They achieve this during the high tide period. They extract themselves from the bottom and push themselves with their foot. The tip is brought close to the body of the clam and than extends the foot in a rapid motion, pushing the clam along the bottom. They can move quite a distance using this maneuver. I have also seen bar clams and soft-shells moving. Fishermen have reported seeing bay quahaugs moving as well.

The next time you have an opportunity to visit the shore area and you come across razor clams. Dig a few, wash the sand out and either steam them or shuck them raw. They have a wonderful ﬂavor quite similar to bar

clams and can be used in chowders or on their own. Only take what you intend to eat and leave the rest to reproduce.

SOCIETY LOSES FORMER PRESIDENT:

In 1981, the Island gained a new family with the emigration of Lt. Col. Patrick and Ann Wootton. A former member of the Lovat Scouts and a farmer in both Sussex and Guernsey, he brought a love of the land and the environment. Over time, they bought property in Bunbury and Sharam Point (Gladstone) where they set about creating a new life. Pat and Ann had greenhouses in Guernsey where they raised fruit for the canning market. They soon had a greenhouse retroﬁtted into the home in Bunbury as well as a windmill. The latter was equipped with a converter and surplus power could be sold onto Maritime Electric's utility grid. In his greenhouses at Bunbury and Sharam Point, he continued his cultivation of tropical plants including coffee beans, oranges and bananas.

Pat was a committed community member both in Britain and here. On Lihou, his Guernsey Island home, he formed the International Trust for Constructive Living. This Trust allowed inner city youth to experience nature and to come in touch with their spirituality, through quiet time in a natural environment. He continued this effort at Sharam Point on the Island where visitors including Society members were invited to share in their "Quiet Saturdays", an opportunity to spend some time alone at a quiet place on the shore or the woods and subsequently to share a bag lunch followed by a discussion or workshop on a selected topic.

Pat became a member of the Natural History Society and participated in its monthly meetings. In 1989, he was elected Vice-president and later that year, he accepted the position of President. He served as President to January, 1991 and then served as Past-President until December, 1993. In addition, Pat served as President of the Royal Commonwealth Society and was active in criminal justice issues serving as a volunteer councillor at Sleepy Hollow.

On December 23rd, at the age of 81, Lt. Col. Patrick Wootton passed away peacefully. His enthusiasm for nature and life will be missed. Our hearts go out to Ann and their family.

Editors Note: Issue # 105, the May-June, 1989 Island Naturalist carries an article titled "Quiet times to see more clearly " written by Gary Schneider which features the eﬂorts of Pat and Ann Wootton to demonstrate spirituality and life in harmony with nature. As Pat put it "We are endeavouring to present a practical and constructive example of how to survive quite comfortably without causing undue harm to the environment and producing good healthy food without polluting the atmosphere or our precious water supplies. Our quiet times enable us to See more clearly what is required of us, and where priorities in life should lie. " His book, "Islands of Silence touched by the Healing Hand" describes in more detail what the Woottons have tried to achieve before coming to Canada ten years ago and what is planned for the future in P. E.I.