our area was not surprising considering the barren 
     
     nature of the habitat - mostly lizhen, with mosses and 
     
     sedges on wetter ground. 0f greater importance to the 
     
     ecosystem and the Inuit are the sea mammals. White 
     
     whales, or belugas, were once very important food for 
     
     the Inuit, but now only a small herd of fifty animals 
     
     remains in the area. Baleen whales, narwhales, and 
     
     walrus also occurred off northern Quebec, but the 
     
     animals we saw most.often were the seals: ringed, harbour and harp seals would 
     
     often poke their snouts out of the water, or crawl up onto the icepans to bask 
     
     in the sun. ' 
     
    

    
     Unfortunately, this beautiful, serene ecosystem is being threatened by the 
     
     activities of man. Caribou, white whales, and eiders have already declined in 
     
     numbers through shooting. Narwhales and baleen whales have decreased because 
     
     of the whaling industry. Sea mammals and especially seabirds are threatened by 
     
     the oil industry developing in Hudson's Bay, oil spills often killing thousands 
     
     of birds. And even the activities of scientific researchers can disturb animals 
     
     enough to prevent them from breeding successfully. 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
     CNF NEWS 
     
    
   
   
    
     CANADIAN NATURE FEDERATION REPORT by J. Dan McAskill 
     
    
   
   
    
     Several issues of interest to Island members of the Canadian Nature Federation 
     
     were discussed at the November meetings of the CNF’s Environmental Action Committee 
     
     and the Board. The CNF's revised Wolf Policy was approved and the upcoming Nature 
     
     Canada issue will carry an article on wolves. The Youth and Education Committee 
     
     is working on a draft letter prepared by Mary Majka on educational needs, and 
     
     those with an interest in this area should contact me by phone (569-4351) or at 
     
     the next NHS meeting. The 1984 Annual Meeting of the Federation will be hebd in 
     
     Vancouver in the first week of July, and information on field trips and agendas 
     
     will be published in Nature Canada as it becomes available. Resolutions for the 
     
     Annual Meeting are due in April and these should be submitted as soon as possible, 
     
     either to the CNF directly, if they are to represent an individual's concern, or 
     
     to the NHS if they are to represent the society’s concern as a whole. 
     
    

    
     The financial situation of the Federation has improved but further assistance 
     
     is still required to turn the deficit around. Membership packages are available 
     
     at NHS meetings and a year’s membership {$20.00) provides an individual with 4 
     
     issues of one of the best outdoor magazines in canada as well as discounts on a 
     
     wide selection of nature books, art prints, binoculars, telescopes, greeting cards, 
     
     etc., plus access to field trips throughout the country. Please join the Federation 
     
     and support its fight for sensibfe land management. 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
     :CN’T FORGET TO BEN W ICU? 351353.3133? I]: THE FIATCFAL HISTORY SOCIETY FOR 1984