An excerpt of a letter to ECU shareholders, hedge funds implicated, sound familiar?:

ECU Silver Chairman and CEO, Michel Roy, Provides Letter to Shareholders Last Update: 5/9/2011 1:19:19 PM <p>

TORONTO, ONTARIO, May 9, 2011 (Marketwire via COMTEX) -- ECU Silver Mining Inc. (ECU)<p>

Dear Shareholders, Gold and silver prices have surged since the beginning of 2011, despite a sharp correction this past week. However, most of the stocks in the mining sector, including both producers and explorers, have significantly underperformed the precious metal price escalation. Many analysts attribute this incongruity to an over-riding investment strategy implemented by many hedge funds in which they "hedge" the sector investment by collectively going long the metal and short the mining stocks.<p>

Beyond this general sector underperformance, ECU's stock also appears to have received excessive pressure from trading patterns which appear designed to suppress the stock price. Management considers this to be a serious concern and is in discussions with legal counsel regarding the nature of this activity and potential recourse. <p>

From an operational standpoint, much has already been accomplished in 2011 and as the year progresses, management anticipates numerous achievements which should enhance production and revenue, as well as the size and quality of the resource. Presumably, these accomplishments will positively impact the value of ECU's common stock.