5 
Some good sport at sea fishing has been obtained by Captain Thornton, It.A., 
who, since February 1897, has caught, among others, 23 fish each, over 70 lbs. 
weight, the largestJbeing 90^-, 85, 82 and 79 lbs. each. They were mostly caught 
close inshore from a dinghy boat bv means of big (and high) bait, thick line, 
great patience and wiley artifice. Many more equally heavy were hooked and 
are still to be seen by R.E. divers of the S.M. company with hooks in their 
mouths in the same neighbourhood. Captain Thornton is our piscatorial pro¬ 
fessor. By visiting the neighbouring continent during the early summer, 
excellent salmon and trout fishing can be obtained, and during three weeks in 
Canada in July and August of this year Colonel Dalton got 18 salmon in the 
Bona venture river weighing 34, 27, 23, 21, 20 and down as low as 9 lbs. all on 
the fly. Sea trout in those parts (which run up to 5 lbs.) are considered too 
plentiful by those fishing for salmon, but come in very useful all the same. The 
largest Colonel Dalton got was 3-§- lbs. 
Since 3 and 19 Coys., Western Division, arrived, a 9-hole golf course has been 
opened, and, chiefly owing to Major Marston’s efforts, has been well kept and 
much improved, and has been a great source of amusement and even excitement 
when tournaments and matches with the rival club at Ireland Island have been 
arranged. The record for the 9-holes is held by Major Anderson, R.A., who has 
done the round in 33. The finest performance for the 18-holes was that of 
Lieutenant Goldfinch, R.A., who completed the double round in a match in 76. 
The R.A. and R.E. Games’ Funds were both kind enough to contribute towards 
the maintenance of the links and the erection of a shed, which is dignified locally 
by the name of a pavillion. 
Lawn tennis and squash racquets are both patronized. For the former there 
is one lady’s day a week with tea in the pavillion. 
In 1895 a football league was started, opened to Companies, R.A., R.E. and the 
detachment of the line regiment stationed at St. Georges. The cup—a work of 
art executed by the Army and Navy Stores—has been played for twice, and twice 
won by the R.A.., in ’95 by No. 3, and in ’96 by No. 19 Coy., which now 
holds it. 
Jubilee day was celebrated on June 22nd, and the R.A. battalion, under Lieut.- 
Colonel Dalton (including the Bermuda Militia Artillery, or “Black Watch”) led 
the march past, preceded by the drums and fifes of 19 Coy. A service was after¬ 
wards held in the cathedral at Hamilton and a reception by H.E. the Governor 
and Mrs. Barker in the afternoon. In the evening a grand military tattoo was 
performed by the bands of the Leinster Regiment, R.A. and volunteers, succeeded 
by a torchlight procession and illuminations of the town and yachts in the 
harbour. 
When Colonel Morgan left, in December ’96, the Command of the R.A. devolved 
upon Major Mars ton, until the arrival of Colonel Dalton, on the 21st April. 
Captain (now Major) Gardiner and Captain Simonds have both left since, and 
their successors, Captains Levita and Ross-Johnson have not yet joined. 
The strength of the R.A.is shortly to be increased to two double Companies, at St. 
George’s and one at Ireland Island. No. 8, Southern Division, will arrive here 
shortly to relieve No. 19, Western, which goes to Halifax. This will necessitate 
enlargement of the R.A. and R.E. mess ; the sergeants’ mess has already been 
enlarged. 
The topographical limitations of the Bermudian rock-patches preclude polo. 
Even an enthusiast would scarcely wish to play on the hard high road which 
meanders from end to end of the colony; moreover, a bad swerve off, it would 
precipitate pony and rider into the sea. And hunting is necessarily not a feature 
of the place. There is nothing to hunt except land crabs, which afford more 
