Our new cover design is based on the 1886 Coll Almanack which, incidentally, includes some fascinating information. For example, the island's population was then 643 and rain fell on 158 days in the previous year - we may not equal the first figure, but I'm sure we beat the second last year! Island tradespeople included carpenters, blacksmiths, shoemakers, weavers and dressmakers, and island produce for export included butter, seed potatoes, cheese and, of course, lobsters. There was a school board, a parochial board, a public library and a Temperance Society with 75 members... I wonder if, a hundred years from now, this magazine will fascinate and perhaps surprise its readers in a similar way - assuming of course there are still copies (and readers!) in existence? I hope so, and that they in the future and you now will enjoy this 1986 issue, which is mainly about Coll's institutions and enterprises in past and present. Again my grateful thanks to Mairi Hedderwick and Florence Russell for their unfailing support and to all contributors (of both material and money), advertisers and salespersons who help to make this little island enterprise a continuing success.