Alan:
    The disposable Pigma Micron waterproof ink pen (Sakura Color Products
Corp, Japan, Item No. XSDKO5), is also good for labels and field sheets
(never clogs like India ink pens).  One is ~$3.00 at office supply stores,
comes in different sizes.  A #5 has a line 0.45 mm wide.  We use #5 or #8
(thicker line) for field sheets, but a finer point could be used for labels.
A single pen lasts a long time when capped between uses.
   Never use recycled paper for field work.  Someone sent me some preserved
shells to identify, with data written on recycled paper--paper was in shreds
when I got it, and almost impossible to decipher the locales (had to dry out
little pieces and put together a puzzle).
    We use 25% cotton bond for dry labels, and xeroxed field sheets (they
don't disintegrate if they get wet, and float if the wind whips one away).
When dealing with specimens in preservative, use 100% rag bond paper
(available at good department stores, or office supply stores, ~$10.00 for 50
 8.5" X 11" sheets).
    The Ohio State University Museum of Biological Diversity has begun using
a label paper called:
    Resistall Paper 36#, 100 shts/pk, 8.5" X 11", Lot No: 107766, Catalog
Number 219-368511, 1998 price was 24.80/pk, Phone 1-800-628-1912, University
Products, Holyoke, MA.

Marian
Marian E Havlik
Malacological Consultants
1603 Mississippi Street
La Crosse, WI 54601-4969 USA
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Phone/Fax: 608.782.7958