Imperial MetalsCorp. said April 5 that its 50%-owned subsidiary, Huckleberry MinesLtd., recalled 44 of the 85 employees that were laid off in January from its Huckleberry copper mine in British Columbia dueto weak copper prices.

Reiterating its earlierstatement, the company said that it may place its Huckleberry mine oncare and maintenance if copper prices do not increase by the third quarter.

The mine will continue to process stockpiles until the end ofAugust.

Mitsubishi MaterialsCorp., Dowa Mining Co. Ltd., and Furukawa Co. Ltd. together own the other 50% of HuckleberryMines.