For Release: October 21, 1997

Contact: Michael Lapisky 277-3075

Stephanie Powell 277-2771 ext. 4418

PROVIDENCE - The RI Department of Environmental Management's Division of Fish and Wildlife has announced that the State's 1997-98 waterfowl stamp is available, as are regular and special edition prints.

The stamp, titled Narragansett Bay Greater Scaup, was designed and produced by Rhode Island School of Design graduate Robert Steiner, who has designed a number of state duck stamps.

Proceeds from the sale of stamps and prints will continue to be used for research and restoration of waterfowl habitat and for land acquisition benefiting the State's waterfowl population, Lapisky noted. This is the eighth year DEM has offered the stamps.

Among projects benefiting from stamp proceeds are the restoration of the Galilee Bird Sanctuary, rehabilitation of the dam and water control structures at the Great Swamp, Burlingame, and Woody Hill state management areas as well as at Nye Marsh in Coventry.

The mint stamp is mandatory for waterfowl hunting and is free to anyone possessing a current valid Rhode Island hunting license. The stamp must be signed across the face and affixed to the license. Special edition stamps are valid for waterfowl hunting and do not have to be signed, but must be carried while hunting. Hunters can obtain their stamp through town clerks and licensing agents.

Collectors have several choices, including single mint stamps at $7.50 each, single hunter's type with tab at $7.50, corner plate blocks of four at $30, sheets of 30 mint stamps at $225, hunter's books of 10 at $75, and hunter's type pane of five at $37.50. Order forms are available from DEM's Division of Fish and Wildlife, 4808 Tower Hill Rd., Wakefield, or by calling the Division at 277-3075 or 789-3094.

A limited number of hand-signed Governor's edition stamps will be available through the division at the cost of $97.50. "Early ordering for Governor's stamps is a must," Lapisky said, adding that reservations for Governor stamps should be made by telephone.

Regular and special edition prints are available through local art dealers and galleries, and through Steiner Prints, 315 Cornwall, San Francisco, CA 94118. The toll-free telephone number for Steiner Prints is (800) 225-3971.