NATURAL HISTORY: TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction A. Characterization of the Environment 1. Study Area 2. Climate 3. Geology 3.1 Bedrock Geology 3.2 Structure/Topography 3.3 Submarine Geology 3.4 Surficial Geology 3.5 Formation of Commercial Deposits   4. Oceanography 4.1 Bathymetry and Seafloor Composition 4.2 Circulation 4.3 Temperature and Salinity 4.4 Nutrients 4.5 Biological Productivity 4.5.1 Primary Production 4.5.2 Secondary Production 4.5.3 Sedimentation 4.5.4 Algae 4.5.5 Benthos 4.5.6 Fish 4.5.7 Marine Mammals 4.5.8 Seabirds 4.6 Contaminants 4.7 Summary  5. Soils  6. Ecosystems - Soils, Vegetation, Wildlife 6.1 Taiga 6.2 Highlands Plateau 6.3 Avalon Uplands 6.4 Carboniferous Uplands 6.5 Carboniferous Lowlands 6.6 Estuaries   7. Major Watersheds Area 7.1 Cape George 7.2 St. Georges Bay South 7.2.1 Antigonish Harbour 7.2.2 Pomquet River 7.3 South Western Cape Breton 7.4 The Margaree River 7.5 Cape Breton Highlands Watersheds 7.6 Summary   8. Water Resources 8.1 Distribution 8.2 Streamflow 8.3 Atmospheric Depostition 8.4 Water Quality 8.4.1 Major Ions 8.4.2 Nutrients 8.4.3 Physical Descriptors 8.4.4 Heavy Metal Contaminants 8.5 Summary   B. Human Activity, Economics and Impacts   1. Industry 1.1 Fisheries 1.1.1 Invertebrates 1.1.1.1 Snow Crab 1.1.1.2 Lobster 1.1.1.3 Sea Scallops 1.1.2 Finfish 1.1.2.1 Marine 1.1.2.1.1 Atlantic Herring 1.1.2.1.2 Atlantic Mackerel 1.1.2.1.3 Atlantic Cod 1.1.2.1.4 White Hake 1.1.2.1.5 American Plaice 1.1.2.1.6 Flounder Species 1.1.2.1.7 Miscellaneous Fisheries 1.1.2.1.8 Summary of Fisheries 1.1.3 Diadromous 1.1.3.1 American Eel 1.1.3.2 Gaspereau 1.1.3.3 Rainbow Smelt 1.1.3.4 Summary of Diadromous Fisheries 1.1.4 Indirect Potential Impacts of Commercial Fisheries 1.1.5 Aquaculture/shellfish 1.1.5.1 Shellfish Harvesting and Area Closures 1.1.5.2 Aquaculture 1.1.5.3 Summary  1.2 Forestry 1.2.1 Economic and Forestry 1.2.2 Potential Impacts  1.3 Agriculture 1.3.1 Potential Impacts  1.4 Mining 1.4.1 Coal 1.4.2 Gypsum 1.4.3 Barite 1.4.4 Iron and Copper 1.4.5 Limestone 1.4.6 Impact 1.4.7 Petroleum Resources  1.5 Trapping  1.6 Summary   2. Residence 2.1 Settlement Patterns   3. Recreation 3.1 Hunting 3.2 Recreational Fishery 3.3 Tourism 3.3.1 Natural Area 3.3.2 Recreational Activities 3.3.3 Festivals/Cultural Events 3.3.4 Tourist Visitation by Area   C. Fisheries Economics 1.1 Introduction 1.1.1 The Economic Value of Fish 1.1.2 Statistical Employment Levels 1.1.3 Government Initiative 1.1.4 An Example of Government Intervention 1.1.5 Impact of Stock Closure 1.1.6 Cheticamp Harbour Development 1.1.7 Other Issues 1.1.8 Research and Development 1.1.9 Summary  1.2 Aquaculture Economics 1.2.1 Aquaculture Development Strategy 1.2.2 A Revised Act 1.2.3 Aquaculture and the Greater Community 1.2.4 Regional Development Advisory Committees 1.2.5 Published Economic Studies 1.2.6 Aquaculture Statistics 1.2.7 Access to Information 1.2.8 Summary Conclusions and Recommendations Literature Cited Appendices