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December 7, 2000

DIVISION ANNOUNCES FISH ART & WRITING CONTEST

For more information contact:
Mimi Dunne at 908-637-4125

All New Jersey students in grades 4 through 8 are invited to participate in the Division of Fish and Wildlife's first annual Fish Art and Writing Contest. The contest was designed to introduce youngsters to the variety of fish found in the Garden State as well as the integral role each plays in the quality of life here in New Jersey.

For the art portion of the contest, youngsters must submit a drawing depicting a New Jersey fish that can be done in acrylics, watercolors, oils, oil pastels, crayons or ink. All art must be original. The fish should be depicted in its habitat. The finished size should be approximately 8 x 10-inches.

Each entry must also include a written biography of the same New Jersey fish depicted in the drawing. The biography must include where in New Jersey the fish is found, its habits, habitat, any ecological information about the fish, and whether or not it is of commercial or recreational importance.

There will be first and second place winners in each of the following categories: Grade 4, Grade 5, Grade 6, Grade 7 and Grade 8. Biographies are limited to 500 words and will be judged along with the drawing of the fish. Teachers who would like more information on introducing this activity in the classroom can visit the Division's website at www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw and click on education.

Each winner will receive an engraved plaque as well as an assortment of fishing equipment. In addition, each winner will be invited to the Pequest Trout Hatchery and Natural Resource Education Center in Warren County for a special VIP tour and awards ceremony. Winners will also have a chance to fish at Pequest's Fishing Education Pond with Division Director Bob McDowell on the opening day of trout season, Saturday, April 7, 2001. A selection of winning entries will be featured in the Division's 2002 Freshwater Fish Digest.

Entries must be postmarked by Friday, March 9 and must include the entrant's name, address, telephone number, grade and school name. Entries become the property of the Division and will not be returned.

Submit artwork/biography to: Fish Art & Writing Contest, N.J. Division of Fish and Wildlife, 605 Pequest Road, Oxford, New Jersey 07863.