Dear Conch-lers, I have been recently in Eastern Canada and found the most productive spot in Cumberland Cove, Prince Edward Island, few kilometers east of the bridge to the mainland. The beach is in front of a campground. On august 10th, heavy winds brought on the beach lot of shells, especially very big Lunatia heros, Modiolus modiolus, loose valves of Spisula solidissima and few other species I can't recall at the moment. It was striking to observe hundreds of Nassarius sp. in intertidal sand. It was an interesting place, since it was the only one with some shellgrit on the beach and in pools in the intertidal area. I collected a bag of it but still have not had time to sort it out. Anyway, it seems to contain microshells. All other places visited for shelling during my trip, Tadoussac (Quebec), Cape Breton Island and Digby (Nova Scotia), just produced few species and absolutely no shellgrit. Tadoussac beach (in front of the "Dunes") was full of Mya arenaria, Mesodesma arctatum, Littorina saxatilis (on rocks). I also found a worn specimen of Amauropsis islandica. Cape Breton Island beaches are almost sterile (but the inland park and coastal views are superb). Digby beaches had the omnipresent Mya arenaria, Macoma balthica (also some nice pink specimens), Nucella lapillus (I found it only here), few Littorina. Pretty poor, isn't it? It was striking I was not able to obtain in the city of sea scallop a complete specimen of Placopecten magellanicus, even looking in the harbour, asking to local fishermen or gift shops. It seems they clean shells in the open sea arriving at the harbour only with the soft parts. I have come back home just with two loose beached valves. I actually realize most of the species cited might be common ones, but for an european collector for the first time on north american beaches it was interesting to find them too. Paolo G. Albano Bologna, Italy P.S.: my deepest condolences and friendship feelings to all the American people.