Editor's COll-umn

Bringing out a small magazine has almost as much to do with money as words I'm discovering. Sales increased considerably last year and we broke somewhere near even, which, with ever rising printing and postal costs, means we have to sell at least 1,200 copies. My grateful thanks to some energetic sales-persons (on sea as well as land) and to all who sent donations, big and, small. I'd also like to thank our advertisers for their continued support - if only we could convince more off-island enterprises to advertise! I hope you'll help to keep the magazine afloat by buying your very own copy of this issue and subscribing to the next on the subscription slip inside.

The sea and ships are the main theme of this issue, though there's lots to interest landlubbers as well as mariners. I hope it pleases you all, most especially the full-time residents of Coll. Without them, whether they've lived there for two years, twenty or a lifetime, the island simply couldn't continue as a viable place to be enjoyed by those of us who come and, regretfully, go away again every year.