In January the Club embarked on what was to be the busiest year in its history. They would shoot weekly for a total of 17 times, and it was to be significant in that their enthusiasm was at a peak, and yet it would, in a way, perhaps mark the beginning of the end.

Remington Arms of New Haven, Connecticut, had just been taken over by two large companies in the same line of business. Fifty percent of the company had been purchased by the Union Metallic Cartridge Company, and before the year was out, the other half was picked up by Winchester Repeating Arms. This amalgamation would last until 1896 when Winchester would sell its share to Union Metallic, and Remington would once again become an independent name.

Team shooting had really caught on, and would dominate all shooting discussion and participation throughout the year. Selection of teams each week was left up to a committee, set up by the executive, and scoring results indicated they did their job very well.

All matches were relatively close, despite the expected grumbling of some members. Bill Hobkirk was still the standard by which all of the members rated themselves, but time and experience were developing some excellent clay target shooters: Fred Hyndman, Rowan FitzGerald, L. H. Davies, Ernest Blanchard, Francis Haszard, Eustace Haviland, the Peters bro- thers, and a few others had all found the shooting rhythm so necessary to be a good moving target com- petitor, and on given days were all capable of finishing with the top score.

The second match of 1888 was at Falconwood on Saturday, January 14th, and prior to getting under way it was mutually agreed, by all in attendance, especially Hobkirk, that they use up the remaining, 100 or so 'bats' that were still in the Club's target inventory. Since there were nine members in

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