TH ANKS

95 memberships paid before the end of February, more than enough for 3 pages of names in alphabetical order. Last . year it took until the end of March to reach that point. Most days one or more renewals come in, so we'll hold off writing those pages, and with continued cooperation we'll have enough for 5 pages of names in the next few weeks. Regular membership - $4; Family — $5; Student — $2. Make

out cheques to Natural History Society of PEI, c/o Margaret E. Mallet, 53 Fitzroy St., Charlottetown, PEI, ClA 1R4.

Natural Histoy 3061er news

The February 3 meeting of the Natural History Society was held at the Farm Centre, and quite a bit of business was dealt with and updated. Pres— ident Rosemary Curley told members that the NHS may put on a film night for children and adults as part of Environment Week, June 1-6. Volunteers to work are needed, also any suggestions would be welcome. Contact Rose- mary if you're interested. Members also hear about the proposed Environ— mental Protection Act hearings, and a planned conference on April 13 and 14 sponsored by the PEI National Park, Island Nature Trust and the Tourism Association of PEI. The theme of the conference will be how wildlife and tourism can go together - the first day will deal with piping plovers, the second day on tourism, wildlife and the economy.

A group in Summerside is interested in becoming an affiliate of the NHS and having space in the newsletter. Especially in the winter, it's quite a drive from Summerside or west of the city to meetings in Charlotte town. Members will be kept in touch about this. It would be good to get . more news and stories from the western part of the Island.

Rosemary told members that she was not comfortable representing the NHS on the cormorant issue (last year the society voted oppose any hunt until further information was available) and Geoff Hogan agreed to repre- sent the society on the Colonial Nesting Birds Committee and be the spokes— person on the issue.

The NHS received a letter from Allan Billard of the Eastern Fishermen's Association asking for support in their efforts to cull grey seals. His information was from a leaked copy of the Malouf report, and he said he thinks the seals should be managed because otherwise fishermen might get out of hand and solve the issue themselves, animal rights groups might tilt the balance the other way and that the hunt would be based on sound prin- ciples of management. Members voted to get a copy of the report before making a decision, and Dan McAskill picked this appropriate time to read a press release from the Canadian Wildlife Federation (who no one would accuse of being an animal rights group). The release read as follows:

"Government—subsidized culls of grey and harp seals are probably not a good response to the problem of increasing seal populations in Atlantic Canada, according to the Canadian Wildlife Federation. Responding to the report of the Royal Commission on Seals and the Sealing Industry that was released yesterday, Ken Brynaert, CWF Executive Vice-President, said that culls, such as those proposed by the Commission, would be a bald admission by the authorities that they have failed to manage wildlife resources pro- perly.

"Whether it's wolves in British Columbia, cormorants in Prince Edward Island, or seals in Newfoundland, culls that enhance populations of one . wildlife species at the expenSe of another through mass exterminations are rarely justified. The Federation recognizes that grey seals in particular

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