More interesting stuff relative to excise taxes, forwarded by Peter Rauch
from BIRDCHAT.

>Date: Thu, 2 Mar 1995 09:12:44 -0500
>From: "W.A. Retzlaff" <wr13 at CORNELL.EDU>
>Subject: US F&WS on WWW and Duck Stamp Program
>To: Multiple recipients of list BIRDCHAT
>
>Given the recent thread on birders paying their way I have cut and pasted
>below (from the US Fish and Wildlife Service WWW page - available at
>http://www.fws.gov/) an article/description of the Federal Duck Stamp
>Program which includes ordering information. And, no I don't work for the
>F&WS, but I do endorse the purchase to support wetland conservation. Of
>interest: My Grandfather has a complete set!
>-----------
>The Duck Stamp Story
>
>The Federal Duck Stamp Program is one of the most successful conservation
>programs ever initiated. Since 1934 over $450 million of Duck Stamp revenue
>has contributed to preserving over 4 million acres of wetland habitat in
>the National Wildlife Refuge System.
>
>When the explorers from Europe first set foot upon the continent of North
>America, the skies and marshes were filled with millions of ducks, geese
>and swans, and the woods and plains abounded with an astonishing variety of
>wildlife. The native indians, in their many centuries of dwelling in this
>plenteous land, took from it only what they could use and saw the flocks
>and herds flourish and multiply.
>
>It took the explorers and the thousands of settlers who followed them only
>a little over 400 years to deplete these great flocks and herds, reducing
>some by millions and completely extinguishing others. Migratory waterfowl,
>especially, were decimated as market hunters and overly eager sports
>enthusiasts laid waste to the vast flocks. Millions of acres of marshland
>were drained to feed and house this country's ever-growing population,
>greatly reducing waterfowl breeding and nesting habitat.
>
>In addition, the elements joined forces to reduce wetland areas as the
>central portion of the continent was devastated by a prolonged drought of
>historic proportions. The Dust Bowl years left that area withered and
>unproductive, and even the lush timbered swamps of the south and the
>marshes of the Gulf Coast suffered. Migration rest areas and wintering
>grounds became endangered.
>
>As early as 1913, Congress recognized the importance of waterfowl
>management and protection with the enactment of the Weeks-McLean Law. In
>1918 the Migratory Bird Treaty Act was passed and protection from
>commercial exploitation was afforded to both migratory waterfowl and other
>species of birds.
>
>By the late 1920's, the waterfowl situation became critical and the
>descendants of the early explorers and settlers realized that urgent action
>was required to remedy the problem. A very significant step was taken when
>the U.S. Congress enacted the Migratory Bird Conservation Act of 1929. The
>law expanded the existing National Wildlife Refuge System established in
>1903 and provided authorization for the acquisition of wetlands for
>waterfowl habitat. The law was, however, only a stopgap measure, as it made
>no provisions for the procurement of funds with which to purchase the land.
>
>J. N. "Ding" Darling, nationally-known political cartoonist, led a drive by
>conservationists to remedy the funding problem. Darling, who was keenly
>interested in conservation and wildlife, watched in dismay as the waterfowl
>habitat in his own state was severely reduced. Darling put his own artistic
>talents to use and frequently published biting cartoons depicting the
>destruction of this nation's waterfowl and their habitat.
>
>On March 16, 1934, Congress passed the Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp Act
>which required every waterfowl hunter 16 years of age and over to annually
>purchase and carry a Federal Duck Stamp. Proceeds from the sale of Duck
>Stamps were earmarked to buy and lease waterfowl habitat.
>
>President Franklin D. Roosevelt appointed Darling as Chief of the Bureau of
>Biological Survey, predecessor of the present U.S. Fish and Wildlife
>Service. Darling produced a small pencil sketch on a pair of mallards
>coming in over a marsh pond. This sketch became the first Duck Stamp, and
>in August of 1934, the Duck Stamps went on sale. A total of 635,001 were
>sold at one dollar each.
>
>The price of Duck Stamps has increased over the years with the decreasing
>availability of wetlands. Waterfowl habitat which once sold for as little
>$1.00 an acre now costs thousands of times that price. A collector who had
>purchased, at the issue price, each of the 60 stamps by 1993 would have
>spent a total of $249. This investment would presently be worth over $4000.
>That percentage increase has turned many stamp purchasers into avid
>collectors. All stamps not sold are destroyed three years after issue, thus
>preserving the value of the stamps purchased by collectors.
>
>Most of the annual stamps depict waterfowl in their natural environment.
>Until 1949 a nationally-recognized wildlife artist was commissioned
>annually to produce a Duck Stamp design. Since that year, however, an
>annual Duck Stamp design is chosen by a panel of waterfowl, stamp and art
>experts. This is the only annual art competition sponsored by the Federal
>Government, and the number of annual entries varies between 400 and 1000.
>
>Any artist can enter the contest by submitting a 10 x 7 inch waterfowl
>design and paying an entry fee. The winner receives a pane of stamps
>bearing his or her design and maintains the right to sell prints of the
>winning artwork which are eagerly sought by collectors. Regulations for
>this contest are available around April of each year and will automatically
>be sent to artists who entered the previous year. Those who were not
>previously entered, need only call (202) 208-4354 for a copy of the
>regulations.
>
>As mentioned before, the Federal Duck Stamp Program is one of the most
>successful conservation programs ever initiated. Over 98 cents of every
>Duck Stamp dollar goes directly into a fund used solely to acquire wetlands
>for North American waterfowl. These lands become a part of the National
>Wildlife Refuge System and also benefit many other species of plants and
>animals.
>
>The focus of the program has changed over the decades. The goal in recent
>years has been to preserve key wintering and breeding habitats in each of
>the four major north-south migratory waterfowl flyways, particularly those
>most threatened by development. Effort are also underway to save areas
>needed by species whose numbers are low or declining, such as black ducks,
>cackling Canada geese, pintails, red-heads, and wood ducks.
>
>The Duck Stamp Program also aids wildlife other than waterfowl. One-third
>of the nation's endangered or threatened species find food and shelter in
>wetlands conserved under the program. Coastal wetlands also provide
>spawning and nursery habitat for our nation's fishery resources. In
>addition to providing valuable fish and wildlife habitat, wetlands help to
>maintain ground water supplies and water quality, protect shorelines from
>erosion, store floodwaters, trap sediments that can pollute waterways, and
>modify climatic changes.
>
>Possession of the most recent Federal Duck Stamp (must be signed in ink
>across it's face) provides free admission into all National Wildlife
>Refuges where entrance fees are charged. It is also one way to support the
>goals of The North American Waterfowl Management Plan, an historic 1986
>agreement between the United States and Canada which sets forth a course of
>action for both countries to take to ensure the continued survival of
>abundant populations of ducks, geese and swans.
>
>The success of the Federal Duck Stamp Program and the North American Plan
>requires the continued strong commitment, creativity and hard work of the
>Federal Governments of these two nations, state and local governments,
>private organizations, businesses, and individual citizens.
>
>The purchase of a Federal Duck Stamp provides an opportunity for every
>citizen to make a small investment in an enormous endeavor - the
>preservation of our natural heritage.
>
>To order Federal Duck Stamps, prints, or an array of products carrying the
>Duck Stamp image, call (202) 208-4354. VISA, Mastercard and personal checks
>accepted.
>===================================================================
>WA (Bill) Retzlaff
>Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research
>Tower Road
>Ithaca, NY 14853-1801
>Ph. (607)254-1226
>FAX (607)254-1242
>email wr13 at cornell.edu
>WWW homepage http://birch.cit.cornell.edu/profiles/WARprof.html

Dennis Paulson, Director phone: (206) 756-3798
Slater Museum of Natural History fax: (206) 756-3352
University of Puget Sound e-mail: dpaulson at ups.edu
Tacoma, WA 98416