WHFI'Y FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, ETMER 26,1990, PAGE 21 -------e Province slow to move on zebra mussel threat Zebra mussels, already creating an ecologicai disaster in the Great Lakes, wiIl inevitabir spread throughout Ontarios iniand waters, threatening ancient aquasystems, experts say. But Ontario's reaction te the threat appears to be mainiscule and ineffective, says Dr. Terry Quinney, provincial coordinator of fish and wlldlife services for the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters., Both Ontario and American scientiste say the zebra infestation wiil easily dwarf the environmental effects of iast eaeisExxon ci spiil in Alaska. e tol taken by the mussels coudi surpass 15 years of acid rein damage of fish stocks in haif the time,' they say. The federation says zebra musseis, wiii cost billions "of dollars before the end of the decade by devastating. spawning. grounds for dozens of-fish species, including waileye (pickerel), base and whitefish; devouring plankton, a -prime food souirce for young fish; causinig vast damage te, ships, 'ýboats,-navigational buoys- piers and industrial water intake limes; covering' beaches with live and. dead musseis;. and threatening ýte teint sonie dinking water supplies., Despit the zebra ýthreat, and the aon that aimoat evey Take.precautions When huntingl Another hunting season is upon us in Ontario, and while it cen be a chalenging activity, the Ontario Pâvinciai Police would, like te remind citizens it cen also be dangerous if engaged in careiessly. Every year in Ontario, many pipe are kilied or injured in hunting ý-accidents that could «Iiy havebeen avoided. In the 10 years from 1980 te 1989, an average of S5 -people a year were inured in Ontario, hunting accidents,: while an average of five were iii.ed. Treat every iramas if it je ioaded. Neye point a gun 'at anything you- do not intend te ili, and know where your firearmn is pointed at ail times. Neyer fire from a vehicle, and neyer carry ioaded guns in vehicles. Unioad guns before climbing fences,-jumping ditches or waiking through dense bush. For more information on liunting safety, contact Your local OPP detachmient. Autumn ideal for plantinga FROM PAGE 19 in]and lake and river'couid soon be filled with tliem, the Ontario Natural Resources Ministiy is slow te move, says Quinney. Aithough former minister Lyn McLeod promised the OFAH that the niinistxy will treat the dreaded mussels as "tep priorit...,. few dollars have been assigned, the federationhlas iearned. The ininistry lias yet te approve funding for research ite the mussels' rapid spread throughout Lakes Erie and St. Clair. And oniy $150,000 is proposed for the* firet year's researchi, ministry sources say. There *are no plans te researchi the mussels' spread into iniand waters, thougli the threat ite fish habitat is enormous, says a ministry source. Quinney says ýthe ministry appears te be throwing up its arme in frustration. 'We've been assured by the miriistry that they're taicing the zebra mussel threat seriousiy," says Quinney. But in fact, that doesn't seem te be the case. "A tlireat of this magnitude could eventually* take similar resources te acid ramn research.ý We have te get a more ignificant commitment from tlie ministry," lie aye. ."They appear te be saying: «we can't stop them, «so we may as weil give up," Quinney says. "Thlat's obviously not good enougli." - Zabnx mussasnamad beausmcf thair UT.dpatteira, grow te about live cantimetrea. Eteieproduces up te 40,000 agg annually. As mauy as 760,000 have beau cout ntam i "q aeme *Ta mussais. firsrt f(md 200 yre ago ln the Black sud Caspian ms, ara beliavad to have beau Introduced t., lakcs Erie and St. Clair afier a Europaan frelghter emptiad larva.filad ballast luto the water. . Sincaen=.the scourge bas spread tbroushout the two lakas and bam gaiuad a tbcthold ln lakas Huron snd (Ontario. The mussais bava laggad water Intake pipas, clamega.bP hulle and actuaUly uank.nmrna vigadial bcs -More significant, the sabras ara rapidly coverlng Invaluable .pawnlng bals. Tbay are aiea dapletlng fcod smres, consuining up t. ane-third otfa lskels plankton. -It's predictad that the zabra, will eventuaDly spraad thraughout much cf the province's iland lake systeuls thrmigh tha Rideau and Traut-Savarn watwagys -Although scientiste hcpa thair numbar. wil drap aventually, as thay dld li Europ evry littie reSrch data which applias la Ncrth Ametica's uuiqua anvironmant is avallabla. For more Information or mourceu, contact, Matt Murphy. communicatimias paclaiatOntario Féeration cf Axiglar & Huterm, P.O. B= 28, Peterborough, Ontario, W BYSM (706) 748-=M., PLU INTERIOR DOORS 28"or 30mx80" Bifods also$9 9 available at $989 . slightly higher cost start next sprmng. If's not only the plants that have the head start -- you, the gardener, gain, too, by getting theJ ,pianting done during what.- is generaycoenaidere& -»&Iess-busy'- gardening season.1