For an all-around revolver, one which is sufficiently small to be carried in the pocket, or in a lady's hand-satchel; which may be used with a fair degree of accuracy by a woman, and yet which has sufficient penetration and shockingforce, a standard size .32 caliber is undoubtedly superior to any other. An inexperienced person with a revolver of heavier caliber is likely to hit almost anything else than the thing at which he shoots-unless it is an arm of considerable weight and length of barrel-and a

THE BEST ALL-AROUND REVOLVER.

.22 caliber has not the requisite shocking force. A man or large dog might be hit several times by a bullet of this size and not be seriously injured. It has a somewhat grim sound, but there is no sense in evading the issue-usually when you are shooting a revolver, you are shooting to kill or to incapacitate.

A 32 caliber-caliber is measured in hundredths of an inch-may be obtained in any number of styles at almost any price, from $1.50 to $50; with hammer

A GOOD TYPE TO AVOID.

or hammerless; single or double action; center or rim fire. Nothing can be said in favor of rim-fire cartridges of a size above .22, and very low priced revolvers of any caliber are good but for one thing -to avoid. On the other hand, it is not necessary to pay a large price-a good household revolver can be had for $5.50 in nickel-plate, or $6.00 with blue steel barrel. Each finish has an advantage. Nickel plate soon peels off in places, and the revolver is apt to rust, especially in

salt air, but it will gleam at night, and it is consequently sometimes unnecessary to shoot. shoot. The blue steel does not rust readily, owing to its smooth finish, and does not gleam.

For general use, the double action, hammer revolver is best. Much more accurate shooting can be done when the revolver is cocked with the thumb than when fired by a pull of the trigger alone, so much force being required for the latter. action that it is apt to pull the sight out of alignment with the

target, and, with a good revolver with a "safety" device, little or no danger is possible from the fact of the hammer. being there. It is well, nevertheless, to have the double-action feature, in case it should be desirable to fire several shots in rapid succession. The cylinder of a .32 caliber revolver of standard make takes five cartridges.

For target shooting, killing snakes, shooting at animals at any distance, and the like, the hammerless revolver in the hands of any but an experienced person is practically worthless.

A .22 caliber revolver has some advantages, if it is to be used by a woman or person of slight physical strength, inasmuch as there is practically no jump or recoil, and it can be held steady upon the target, but some of its defects have already been mentioned. As a general utility arm, as for a farmer's use, it is of little or no value. For target shooting only, especially when equipped with a long barrel, it is delightful, although a single-shot, single-action pistol is more satisfactory, and certainly safer, for this purpose. Revolvers of .22 caliber may be obtained in very small sizes, and

usually take six cartridges in the cylinder. A .38 caliber is superior to the .32 in that the bullet is heavier, and the smashing and penetrating power slightly greater. All things considered, it is inferior to the .32, having a greater recoil, with consequent loss of accuracy, and a larger frame, with greater weight, as a rule. This is the caliber of the revolvers used by the army and navy, but it is thought that it will shortly be abandoned for a larger. The regular service revolver makes a good weapon for countrydwellers to have about, its long barrel giving range and accuracy. The service arm takes six cartridges in the cylinder, while the standard styles take but five.

The .44 and 45 calibers have been made famous in stories and fiction of the West. These calibers are excellently adapted to the needs of the range, but cannot be used with any degree of satisfaction as to accuracy except in very heavy revolvers, with long barrels. In the hands of the average citizen a short barreled .44 would be about as dangerous to an enemy as a firecracker, the recoil being slightly less than that of a shot-gun. If there is sufficient time for deliberation, one may

met if he can hit a one-foot circle at twenty feet. A few points to remember are, that the sights of a revolver are fine -you should just see the top of the front sight over the rear; that the kick of a revolver will probably raise the muzzle so that the bullet will strike considerably higher and further to the left than expected, and that, on account of the shortness of the barrel, if you sight a tenth of an inch to either side of your target, the ball will go very wide of it. Aim at a man's belt.

Never carry a revolver in your pocket

unprotected from perspiration, as it will soon rust it. A leather holster is inexpensive, protects the revolver, and does not increase the bulk. Keep all working parts well oiled. Do not allow cartridges to remain in the cylinder until they corrode. As the barrel is rifled, it must be cleaned if much shooting is done-it need not be cleaned if only a shot now and then is fired.

In purchasing a revolver, see that the stock fits your hand fairly well; if it is too small you cannot get a good, firm grip.

Despite the fact that such a suggestion recently appeared in print, do not attempt to steady a revolver by extending the index finger along the cylinder, unless you wish the finger cooked. You may, however, when using the revolver as a single-action, brace it considerably by catching the front of the triggerguard with the index finger and pulling the trigger with the middle finger. Be careful first to try it a few times with an empty revolver. With a single-shot pistol, the index finger may be extended along the barrel, with considerable increase in steadiness.

Most important of all, don't "fool" with a revolver-it is built for business. Do not leave it lying around-though, of course, you don't want it so well put away that you can't get it when you need it-and never, whether it is loaded or not, point it at any one unless you intend to or would not mind if you did-kill him.

There is no danger, except to the other man, in a revolver, when ordinary caution and common sense are used.

VERY interesting new departure is about to be taken by the government through the establishment of a marine biological station either at Key West, or more probably on a small key in that immediate neighborhood. The object of the enterprise will be partly scientific, but to a large extent practical and commercial, the intention being to utilize the plant for making somewhat elaborate experiments in the propagation of food fishes of species which up to the present time have never been artificially hatched.

The station, which is to cost $50,000, will be the southernmost outpost, so to speak, of the United States Fisheries Bu

reau.

It will be a fully-equipped marine laboratory, provided with all sorts of apparatus for the capture of aquatic animals

including dredge-nets for taking the bottom species, tow-nets for catching surface forms, and automatically-closing nets for imprisoning the creatures which live in intermediate depths. Experimental work of many kinds will be carried on, such as the artificial planting and raising of sponges, and facilities for study and research will be placed at the disposal of naturalists from all parts of the world who wish, on their own private account, to utilize the plant for purposes of original investigation.

The neighborhood of Key West is extraordinarily rich in marine life. By the