water, from mid-May to mid-June with only Harbour Seal 
     
     a single birth occurring and rarely twins. 
     
     Unlike the Gray Seal, a Harbour Seal pup 
     
     may lose its white coat just prior to or 
     
     immediately following birth, revealing a 
     
     darker spotted coat. Although weak and 
     
     quite helpless at birth, the pups are 
     
     precocious and grow rapidly on their 
     
     mothers' milk. During this time the 
     
    

    
     mother is protective and begins to wean her young only after one month. 
     
    

    
     Gray Seals occur throughout Northumberland Strait, with concentrations on 
     
     Nova Scotia's Amet Island, a large breeding colony, and on Governor's Island in 
     
     Hillsborough Bay. Harbour Seals, which forage up to 10 miles offshore, are often 
     
     dominated by the larger Gray Seal. Notable concentrations of Harbour Seals occur 
     
     in the Pownal Bay area and in Murray Harbour. Known whelping areas include Point 
     
     Prim, Murray Harbour, and at various localities along Hillsborough Bay. 
     
    

    
     Both species feed on a wide variety of fish as well as molluscs and 
     
     crustaceans. Gray Seals forage mostly for ground fish on shelf areas while 
     
     Harbour Seals are not restricted to salt water and may follow salmon runs into 
     
     freshwater systems. Unfortunately, the feeding habits of both the Gray and Har- 
     
     bour Seals have caused some conflicts with commercial fishermen. 
     
    

    
     Estimates of damage to fisheries by seals is variable and dependant on many 
     
     factors. Harbour Seals interfere mostly with the netting of salmon and herring 
     
     while Gray Seals are a particular hazard to gill and set nets for salmon. Both 
     
     species are also carriers of the 'cod worm' (Porrocaecum decipiens) which renders 
     
     the flesh of several fish less attractive to the human consumer. For these 
     
     reasons, both species are.considered to have a negative economic importance and 
     
     ,attempts to control their numbers have included the imposition of a bounty system. 
     
     It is hoped that future management will include the development of a policy 
     
     ensuring the continued existence of these species at a tolerable level. 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
     References: 
     
    
   
   
    
     Banfield, A.W.F. 1974. The Mammals of Canada. University of Toronto Press, 
     
     Toronto and Buffalo. 438 p. 
     
    
   
   
    
     William, M.B. and R.P.Grossenheider. 1952. A Field Guide to the Mammals. Houghton 
     
     Mifflin Company, Boston. 281 p. 
     
    
   
   
    
     FEEDER REPORT 
     
    
   
   
    
     Andrew feeder in Milltown Cross: (Dec. to mid Jan.) 1 Downy Woodpecker (Jan. 15), 
     
     12 Blue Jay, 6 Starling, 1 Common Grackle (Dec. 21 On), 10 Evening Grosbeak (LA). 
     
    
   
   
    
     Clark feeder in Indian River: (Dec. 30) 5 Mourning Dove, 4 Downy Woodpecker, 4 
     
     Common Crow, 12+ Black-capped Chickadee, 2 Boreal Chickadee, 50 House Sparrow, 
     
     10 Evening Grosbeak, 6—8 Dark-eyed Junco. On Dec. 24 a large mink came onto the 
     
     verandah and ran around a bit before returning to the brook (TC). 
     
    
   
   
    
     Fichaud feeder on Crestwood Dr. in Charlottetown: (late fall) 12 Blue Jay, 1 
     
     White-breasted Nuthatch (stayed a week), a ‘crowd‘ of Starling, a 'crowd' of 
     
     House Sparrow, 20-30 Evening Grosbeak, 1 Purple Finch (stayed a month) (GF). 
     
    
   
   
    
     Willms feeder in East Royalty: (Dec. 16—18) 12 Rock Dove (nearby), 1 Downy 
     
     Woodpecker, 3 Blue Jay, 3 Black-capped Chickadee, 11 Starling, 24 House Sparrow, 
     
     18 Evening Grosbeak, 1 Rufous-sided Towhee (MW,CW).