First in response to Blaine Whites response to my "Insecticide in Paint" query:
 
     Sorry to say as far as I know there are no new bear defenses here in the
"Frozen North."  Bees are almost entirely in the hobby catagory up here.   I do
know of one trailer, built to hold 10 hives, armored with heavy duty wire mesh.
But nothing really new to report.
 
Next a response to Dave Cawley (the 'accountant' from University of Scranton):
 
     Over the years I have kept varying numbers of colonies.  This year three,
last year four, the year before. . . . .
The winters here are too long for easy or reliable wintering of bees.  More
often than not I find populations so low in the spring that they are not worth
keeping separately.  Mainly I buy new bees each year.  Some years my finances ca
n stand more than others.