EDITORIAL

Another autumn, another Flying Fish, and once again I'm slightly amazed and more than a little relieved that it's all come together for despatch to the printers on the appointed date. This looks like being a slightly thinner issue than recently -- my guess would be 108 pages as against 132 last time -- though we won't know for certain until the text comes together with the photographs and artwork at the layout stage. Anyway, my thanks to all those who've contributed to this issue, and `shame on you' to the (doubtless) many who intended to but didn't get around to it! You've now got a whole winter ahead -- or summer, should you be really lucky -- before the deadline for FLYING FISH 1994/1, which is 31st MARCH 1994.

As I've mentioned before, Flying Fish goes to our printers on computer disk. One of the side benefits of using a computer is that it's temptingly easy to make lists, and one of the lists I keep is of the areas mentioned in each issue's Around the Ports. While some Port Officers are very conscientious, sending in a report at least once a year, others don't seem to have raised their heads above the parapet within living memory! Whilst I'm not for a moment suggesting that every Port Officer should send in a piece for every issue -- there'd be no room for anything else -- it would be really good to hear from some of the `quieter' areas from time to time. Perhaps a photograph and a `come and visit' message via Flying Fish might even make your area less quiet!

And a final plea: once again I seem to have ended up writing the lion's share of the book reviews -- not because I consider my opinion to be any more valid than the next person's, but rather by default. Books often arrive quite late in the game and unless I can nobble someone I know personally (and can trust not only to write a fair review but to produce it by the deadline), writing them myself often proves the easiest option. What I'd like to do is set up an informal register of members willing to help out on such occasions, with a note of individual skills or interests -- particularly technical (electronics, radio, medical, etc) or locality (familiarity with a particular area, should a pilot book come in). I don't think it would be too onerous, and I wouldn't ask anyone to review more than one book per issue unless very desperate. In most cases the reviewer even gets to keep the book. So how about it -- don't let a lack of exotic cruising prevent you doing your bit for Flying Fish!