The Virginian-Pilot
                             THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Monday, July 1, 1996                  TAG: 9607010021
SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B3   EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA 
TYPE: Local Briefs 
                                            LENGTH:   33 lines

FISHING LICENSES FOR SALE

Commercial fishing licenses for 1997 will be available starting today from the Division of Marine Fisheries and license agents across the state. The 1996 licenses are valid until midnight July 21.

``We are giving fishermen a 21-day grace period to purchase their new licenses,'' said Bruce Freeman, director of the state's Division of Marine Fisheries. But, he warns, Marine Patrol officers will fine anglers who don't have valid licenses after July 21.

Licenses sold by the DMF include: vessel, crab, endorsement to sell non-vessel, seafood dealer, ocean pier, charter boat, shellfish, vessel crab, endorsement to sell vessel, spotter plane, land and sale, and license to land flounder.

Permits for charter boats and dealers and licenses to land flounder will be issued only by the DMF office in Morehead City, which also handles all transfers and replacements of vessel licenses.

The Morehead City License unit will be open July 20 and 21 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Fishermen must present copies of the following information when purchasing 1997 licenses:

Current boat registration or U.S. Customs documentation.

Picture identification.

Notarized bill of sale with Hull I.D. number.

60-day temporary boat registration, if applicable.

For more information, costs or locations of license agents, call (919) 726-7021 or (800) 682-2632. by CNB