It is quite obvious, from the tone of the letters from the two ships, that these cruises, teeming as they do with opportunities of acquiring valuable knowledge and experience, are also a source of much pleasure and enjoyment to the lads. It is recorded in the magazine that the captain has started a shooting class among the cadets of the senior term; giving preference to those who have not had an opportunity at home of using a fowling piece. Clay pigeons are provided, and the cadets are instructed in all the precautions which should be used when out shooting, so as to minimise the risk of accident. This is an excellent idea, and the boys ought to be very grateful to Captain Cross for originating it. Every shooting season has its tale of accidents, many of them arising from an utter disregard of precautions and lack of common sense; opportunities often occur of shooting on foreign stations, and the experience gained with the clay pigeons at Dartmouth will come in handy afterwards, no doubt. The practice of dragging a loaded gun through a hedge is responsible for many deaths, the culprit being usually also the victim; and the extraordinary things that people who are supposed to be experts in the use of fire-arms will do sometimes are almost incredible. Let us hope that these young gentlemen, being forewarned, will learn the value of caution and common sense in the use of both sporting and service weapons; not forgetting the revolver, which, in the hands of careless or incompetent persons, is the most dangerous weapon of all. The King's Birthday "whole" was curtailed to a "half" in 1903, owing to the presence of scarlet fever in Dartmouth; but, as it was held on June 26th, the day was long, and was well filled up. Three cricket matches, a picnic of about 140 up the river, and a sea-fishing party of forty or fifty comprised the entertainments, which were all eminently successful. The fishermen were piloted by Mr. James, of Dartmouth, to an ideal fishing ground, where they hauled up many big fish, including huge conger eels--which often give exciting sport by their antics when landed, getting mixed up with all the tackle in the boat, and going for the fishermen open-mouthed when they endeavour to disentangle them--rock-cod, and other marine monsters; they also had a parallel experience with that of the apostolic fisherman of old, for, though they were not using nets, one of their best lines broke from the weight of fish upon it. The spot selected by this acute Dartmouth gentleman presents a strong contrast to some places which are marked "good fishing" on the Admiralty charts, where, indeed, the words hold good in an ironical sense, for you may fish all day there; but, whether your fishing be good, bad, or indifferent, there is no "catching"!