Tb our readers, 



Federal budget cuts are making for tough times in the Sea Grant communications 

 office. Since 1980, our budget has remained the same while inflation has gotten the best 

 of us. 



The cost of producing publications— printing, design, mailing— continued to increase 

 and buying power decreased. 



But we scrimped and saved and continued to send more than 18,000 of you a free 

 Coastwatch at a cost of about $4,500 each month. 



With no extra funding to meet these increases, Sea Grant is faced with some tough 

 decisions. We are considering cutting Coastwatch from 10 issues a year to five and 

 eliminating the newsletters produced by the Marine Advisory Service agents and special- 

 ists. That includes Conchshell, MAS News and Legal Tides. 



Many of you have told us how much you appreciate Coastwatch and look forward to 

 its arrival each month. We'd like to continue to provide you with this informative 

 newsletter 10 times a year, but we can't without some extra dollars. 



If you'd like to help the program with its publishing plight, we'll thankfully accept 

 contributions. Send your tax-deductible donation to Sea Grant Communications, Box 

 8605, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, N.C. 27695-8605. Please make checks 

 payable to North Carolina State University. 



Thank you. 



Kathy Hart 



The Editor 



aiASTWATCII 



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 Box 8605 



North Carolina State University 

 Raleigh, NC 27695-8605 



Raleigh, N.C. 

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Address correction requested 



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