Across

  1. Fowl? No, it’s a fish! Lower one’s head quickly, after such a fiasco? Yes. (6,4)
  6. From the start you only guffawed about a philosophic system. (4)
10. That is an offence, going back for an American of Japanese heritage. (5)
11. He of the cutty gun gets poorly made princess chained to a rock! (9)
12. Part of a circle has a small number, and it’s a secret. (7)
13. Democrat, surrounded by fruit, has decorative kerchief. (7)
14. William of fruit? (6)
16. Price consumed something resembling ribs. (7)
20. Jostled something wee, bold and new-fangled. (7)
21. Spiritual leader gets sticky stuff on little Aussie creature. (6)
24. Naïve young woman, but a genuine sort. (7)
26. Increase allows package deliverer to be good condition. (7)
28. Poured through cone, ending in tube? Enjoyable to need about 100. (9)
29. On-target earnings in the House of Lords means rooms for accommodation. (5)
30. Anna baked bread. (4)      
31. Horribly loose bowels, eh Billy? Led to changes! (5,5)

Down

1. Bribe a lot of weasels, initially, to obtain a one-story house. (8)

2. Vaudeville performed here and shopping done here around America, to eke things out in    the old days. (5,4)

3. Foreigner with a right to possess another’s property until conditions are met. (5)

4. Department of Health member has a virtue by observing moral law. (6)

5. Fish, with award coming up, is fine…it can unravel a mystery. (8)

7. The Barber of Seville, for instance, needs some cooperation. (5)

8. Sci-fi movie is the manifestation of a Hindu deity. (6)

  9. Sore foot cause, perhaps, with tension in poor toe - small instrument is the answer. (8)
15. Bad weather for a plane or bad behavior in a child may lead to such a pronouncement. (8)
17. Hill people got drunk going up to get heath plant. (9)
18. Bugle at crack of dawn may bring about vile leer. (8)
19. Mentally unbalanced Glasgow pigeon gets to idle in North America – no joke! (8)
22. Slight quarrel over fashionable colonial lunch. (6)
23. Seclusion of women from strangers possibly being hard up. (6)
25. Note – Alfred Nobel got joint account for Indian hemp! (5)
27. An address in India initially shows a house in Bengaluru. (5)   

 

Notes

E-mail your solutions of The Very Logical Prize Puzzle No. 404 by the closing date of 4 p.m. (EST) on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025, to mailto:johnnolan755@gmail.com and include your name, postal address and your choice of a Strip T’s shirt***, should you be the drawn winner. Please include a second choice (design number and size) just in case we are out of stock of your favorite T-shirt. The items on Café Press are not in our stock and thus are not available as prizes.

Solutions can also be mailed to John Nolan, 27 River Road, Farmington, NH, 03835.

Most answers, except proper names, appear in Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary tenth edition and/or The Chamber’s Dictionary, revised 13th edition. In this "British-style" crossword, punctuation marks in clues are best ignored, as a rule. The answer to 21 ac is an obsolete spelling.

The solution to The Very Logical Prize Puzzle No. 404 along with the name of the winner, and everyone else submitting correct solutions, will be published on this site towards the end of September.

***P.S. The cost of mailing one T-shirt overseas has quadrupled in recent years and is now over $24 a pop, effectively killing the trade of small businesses like Strip T’s. Thus, the prize now offered to winning puzzlers from outside the U.S. (and within if preferred) will be a signed Stephanie cartoon rather than a T-shirt.



The drawn winner of TVLPP 403 hails, for the second month in a row, from Rochester, NH -- Larry Reynolds! Congratulations, Larry, and let us know if you prefer a t-shirt or a cartoon, Julie.
Also solving the game-themed puzzle, was Ian Simpson of Edinburgh, Scotland, who kindly hoped I got "a great DEAL of entries from the usual PACK of solvers" - before he SHUFFLED off to view a production at the city's current Fringe Festival.
Also in the Hat, this month, was a healthy contingent of English puzzlers, including William Stewart of Leicester, Keith Williams of Kings Worthy, Michael Crapper of nearby Whitchurch, Andy Grady of Tutbury, Nigel Crowley of Cooksbridge and Chris Chatwin of Kenilworth. Derek Harrison of Pegswood, to whom I am deeply indebted for a link on his crossword resource site (see below) went ever so slightly astray at 9 ac, and stayed teering on the Hat's brim. 
Then there was Calfan Dary of Bali, Indonesia, and from across the USA,
Randy Taylor, Julie Lindsay and Jim & Joanne Gray of Rochester and Chris Rogers of Farmington, NH; Jay Miller of Pasadena, Calif,; Tamara Brenner of Elmhurst, Ill.; Rich Pardoe of Houston, Texas and Laura Bradford (Florida) & Carolyn Williams (Maine).
Thank you all very much for your entries, and I hope you'll all enjoy TVLPP 404. Good Lucknow!

Notes
Puzzle enthusiasts are encouraged to visit http://www.crossword.org.uk/ Derek Harrison's resource website for challenging puzzles, links, tools, newsletter, and much besides.

The last 23 years of winners
No. 115 - Andy Knap of London, SW20, England
No. 116 - Randy Taylor of Rochester, New Hampshire, USA
No. 117 - Chris Rogers of Farmington, New Hampshire, USA
No. 118 - Don Parent of Hanover, Maine, USA
No. 119 - Karen Muller of Kohimarama, Auckland, NZ
No. 120 - Nancy Mooney Hebert of Palm Bay, Florida, USA
No. 121 - Carl E. Damuth of Wells, Maine, USA
No. 122 - Don Parent of Hanover, Maine, USA
No. 123 - Randy Taylor of Rochester, New Hampshire, USA
No. 124 - Karen Muller of Kohimarama, Auckland, NZ
No. 125 - Carl E. Damuth of Wells, Maine, USA
No. 126 - Joan Bittrolff, Somersworth, New Hampshire, USA
No. 127 - Not posted (stress and pressure of vacation)
No. 128 - Chris Rogers of Farmington, New Hampshire, USA 
No. 129 - Nancy Mooney Hebert of Palm Bay, Florida, USA
No. 130 - Carl E. Damuth of Wells, Maine, USA
No. 131 - Joan Bittrolff, Alford, Florida, USA
No. 132 - Slipped through cracks due to computer crisis
No. 133 - Karen Muller of Meadowbank, Auckland, NZ
No. 134 - Randy Taylor of Rochester, New Hampshire, USA
No. 135 - Don Parent of Hanover, Maine, USA
No. 136 - Paul Nyack of West Broomfield, Michigan, USA
No. 137 - Carl E. Damuth of Wells, Maine, USA
No. 138 - Don Parent of Hanover, Maine, USA 
No. 139 - Barbara Trow of Dover, New Hampshire, USA
No. 140 - Bonnie & Kevin Bergeron, Rochester, NH, USA
No. 141 - Nancy Mooney Hebert of Palm Bay, Florida, USA
No. 142 - Karen Cleary of St. Johns Park, Auckland, NZ
No. 143 - Chris Rogers of Farmington, New Hampshire, USA
No. 144 - Veronique Bonnet, Rodez, France 
No. 145 - Carl E. Damuth of Wells, Maine, USA
No. 146 - Huguette Simmonds of Tunapuna, West Indies
No. 147 - Randy Taylor of Rochester, New Hampshire, USA
No. 148 - Pierre Gaillard, Olemps, France
No. 149 - Reynir Axelsson, Mosfellsbaer, Iceland
No. 150 - Paul Nyack of West Broomfield, Michigan, USA
No. 151 - Régine Privet, Naucelle, France
No. 152 - Don Parent of Hanover, Maine, USA
No. 153 - Barbara Winter, Dover, New Hampshire, USA
No. 154 - Joan Bittrolff, Alford, Florida, USA
No. 155 - Condell Lovell Simmons of Tunapuna, West Indies
No. 156 - Nancy Mooney Hebert of Palm Bay, Florida, USA
No. 157 - Karen Cleary of St. Johns Park, Auckland, NZ
No. 158 - Barbara Trow of Dover, New Hampshire, USA
No. 159 - Paul Nyack of West Broomfield, Michigan, USA
No. 160 - Sylvie Chauchard of Belmont Sur Rance, , France
No. 161 - Carl E. Damuth of Wells, Maine, USA
No. 162 - Yvette Gaillard of Olemps, Rodez, France
No. 163 - Randy Taylor of Rochester, New Hampshire, USA
No. 164 - Calfan Dary of Anggabaya, Bali, Indonesia
No. 165 - Keith Simmonds of Tunapuna, West Indies
No. 166 - Chris Rogers of Farmington, New Hampshire, USA
No. 167 - Joan Bittrolff of Alford, Florida, USA    
No. 168 - Betty Bardy of Albi, France
No. 169 - Randy Taylor of Rochester, New Hampshire, USA
No. 170 - Bonnie & Kevin Bergeron, Rochester, NH, USA
No. 171 - Paul Nyack of West Broomfield, Michigan, USA
No. 172 - Barbara Trow of Dover, New Hampshire, USA
No. 173 - Barbara Winter of Dover, New Hampshire, USA
No. 174 - Nancy Moony Hebert of Alton, NH, USA
No. 175 - Jim Gaudet of Dover, New Hampshire, USA
No. 176 - Keith Williams of Kings Worthy, England
No, 177 - Karen Cleary of St. Johns Park, Auckland, NZ
No. 178 - Calfan Dary of Anggabaya, Bali, Indonesia
No. 179 - James O. Horrigan, Portsmouth, NH, USA
No. 180 - David Simmonds of Tunapuna, West Indies
No. 181 - Chris Rogers of Farmington, New Hampshire, USA
No. 182 - Madeleine Dupierre of Rodez, France.
No. 183 - Paul Nyack of West Broomfield, Michigan, USA
No. 184 - Jim Siirola of Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
No. 185 - James O. Horrigan, Portsmouth, New HH, USA
No. 186 - Randy Taylor of Rochester, New Hampshire, USA
No. 187 - Joan Bittrolff of Alford, Florida, USA    
No. 188 - Natalie Ryder, Bremen, Georgia, USA
No. 189 - Barbara Trow of Dover, New Hampshire, USA
No. 190 - Héloïse Bonnet of Rodez, France
No. 191 - Jim Gaudet of Dover, New Hampshire, USA
No. 192 - Calfan Dary of Anggabaya, Bali, Indonesia
No. 193 - Keith Williams of Kings Worthy, England
No. 194 - Hugutte R.-M. Simmonds, Tunapuna, West Indies
No. 195 - Terry Towle, Strafford, New Hampshire, USA
No. 196 - Vidya Singh of Sidcup, Kent, England
No. 197 - Jim Sempsrott, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
No. 198 - Condell Lovell Simmons of Tunapuna, West Indies
No. 199 – T. Metzger, C. Williams, L. Bradford, Westport Maine
No. 200 - Norbert Bonnet of Rodez, France
No. 201 - Barbara Bierweiler of Ossipee, NH, USA
No. 202 - Paul Nyack of West Broomfield, Michigan, USA
No. 203 - James O. Horrigan, Portsmouth, NH, USA
No. 204 - Randy Taylor of Rochester, New Hampshire, USA
No. 205 - Chris Rogers of Farmington, New Hampshire, USA
No. 206 - Nancy Mooney Hebert of Palm Bay, Florida, USA
No. 207 - Wayne Maricheau of Tunapuna, West Indies
No. 208 - Mark Nichols of Rugby, Warwickshire, England
No. 209 - Keith Williams of Kings Worthy, England
No. 210 - Jim Sempsrott, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
No. 211 - Calfan Dary of Anggabaya, Bali, Indonesia
No. 212 - Joan Bittrolff of Alford, Florida, USA
No. 213 - Barbara Trow of Dover, New Hampshire, USA
No. 214 - Keith Simmonds of Tunapuna, West Indies
No. 215 - Ian Laming, Chippingham, Wiltshire, England
No. 216 - James O. Horrigan, Portsmouth, NH, USA
No. 217 - Jim Siirola of Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
No. 218 - Keith Williams of Kings Worthy, England
No. 219 - Annie Bonnet of Rodez, France
No. 220 - Veronique Bonnet, Images, France
No. 221 - Eddie Looby, Longbridge, Birmingham, England
No. 222 - Nancy Mooney Hebert of Palm Bay, Florida, USA
No. 223 - Chris Rogers of Farmington, New Hampshire, USA
No. 224 - Mark Nichols of Rugby, Warwickshire, England
No. 225 - Randy Taylor of Rochester, New Hampshire, USA
No. 226 - Hugest Simmonds, Tunapuna, West Indies
No. 227 - Joan Bittrolff of Alford, Florida, USA
No. 228 - David Nash, Coleford, Gloucestershire, England
No. 229 - Jim Sempsrott, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
No. 230 - Condell L. Simmons of Tunapuna, West Indies
No. 231 - Barbara Bierweiler of Ossipee, NH, USA
No. 232 - Eddie Looby, Longbridge, Birmingham, England
No. 233 - Calfan Dary of Anggabaya, Bali, Indonesia
No. 234 – T. Metzger/L. Bradford of Topsham, Maine, USA
No. 235 - Barbara Trow of Dover, New Hampshire, USA
No. 236 - Jim Siirola of Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
No. 237 - Keith Williams of Kings Worthy, England
No. 238 - Philippe Bonnet of Rodez, France
No. 239 - Nancy Mooney Hebert of Palm Bay, Florida, USA
No. 240 - Mark Nichols of Rugby, Warwickshire, England
No. 241 - David Simmonds of Crawford, Dart ford, England
No. 242 - Chris Rogers of Farmington, New Hampshire, USA
No. 243 - Eddie Looby, Longbridge, Birmingham, England
No. 244 - Jim Sempsrott, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
No. 245 - Joan Bittrolff of Alford, Florida, USA
No. 246 - Pat Mathews of Berwick, Maine, USA
No. 247 - Veronique Bonnet, Rodez, France
No. 248 - Paul Nyack, Rochester Hills, Minnesota, USA
No. 249 - David Nash, Coleford, Gloucestershire, England
No. 250 - Nigel Cowley, Cooksbridge, East Sussex, England
No. 251 - Keith Simmonds of Tunapuna, West Indies
No. 252 - Calfan Dary of Anggabaya, Bali, Indonesia
No. 253 - Barbara Bierweiler of Ossipee, NH, USA
No. 254 – T. Metzger, C. Williams, L. Bradford, Maine USA
No. 255 - Eddie Looby, Longbridge, Birmingham, England
No. 256 - Barbara Trow of Dover, New Hampshire, USA
No. 257 - Randy Taylor of Rochester, New Hampshire, USA
No. 258 - Annie Bonnet of Rodez, France
No. 259 - Keith Williams of Kings Worthy, England
No. 260 - Jim Sempsrott, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
No. 261 - Mark Nichols of Rugby, Warwickshire, England
No. 262 - Jim Siirola of Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
No. 263 - Mark Nichols of Rugby, Warwickshire, England
No. 264 - Jeanine Bonnet of Images, France
No. 265 - Chris Rogers of Farmington, New Hampshire, USA
No. 266 - Calfan Dary of Anggabaya, Bali, Indonesia
No. 267 - Joan Bittrolff of Alford, Florida, USA
No. 268 - David Nash, Coleford, Gloucestershire, England
No. 269 - David Simmonds of Crayford, Dart ford, England
No. 270 - Nancy Mooney Hebert, Alton Bay, NH, USA
No. 271 - Trudy Metzger on an island in Maine, USA
No. 272 - Pat Miga of Colleyville, Texas, USA
No. 273 - Eddie Looby, Longbridge, Birmingham, England
No. 274 - Barbara Bierweiler of Ossipee, NH, USA
No. 275 - Huguette R.-M. Simmonds, Rodez, France
No. 276 - Keith Williams, Kings Worthy, Winchester, England
No. 277 - Veronique Bonnet, Rodez, France
No. 278 - Mark Nichols of Rugby, Warwickshire, England
No. 279 - Nancy Mooney Hebert, Palm Bay, Florida, USA
No. 280 - Calfan Dary of Anggabaya, Bali, Indonesia
No. 281 - Keith Williams, Kings Worthy, Winchester, England
No. 282 - Carolyn Williams, Topsham, Maine, USA
No. 283 - Jim Sempsrott, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
No. 284 - Jane Cornville, Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, USA
No. 285 - Larry Reynolds, East Rochester, NH, USA
No. 286 - Rich Pardoe, San Francisco Bay, Calif., USA
No. 287 - Randy Taylor, Rochester, NH, USA
No. 288 - Anne & Bruce Smith, Strafford, NH, USA
No. 289 - Pat Miga of Colleyville, Texas, USA
No. 290 - Bonnie & Kevin Bergeron, Rochester, NH, USA
No. 291 - Annie Bonnet of Rodez, France
No. 292 - Eddie Looby, Longbridge, Birmingham, England
No. 293 - Julie Lindsay of Rochester NH, USA
No. 294 - Joanne Gray of Rochester, NH, USA
No. 295 - Pat Miga of Colleyville, Texas, USA
No. 296 - David Nash, Coleford, Gloucestershire, England
No. 297 - Barbara Trow, Dover, NH, USA
No. 298 - Chris Rogers of Farmington, New Hampshire, USA
No. 299 - Rich Pardoe of Houston, Texas, USA
No. 300 - Mark Nichols of Rugby, Warwickshire, England
No. 301 - Barbara Bierweiler of Ossipee, NH, USA
No. 302 - Clara Bonnet of Rodez, France
No. 303 - Gron Roberts, Neath, West Glamorgan, Wales
No. 304 - Calfan Dary of Anggabaya, Bali, Indonesia
No. 305 - Nancy Mooney Hebert, Palm Bay, Florida, USA
No. 306 - Laura Bradford, Venice, Florida, USA
No. 307 - Keith Williams, Kings Worthy, Winchester, England
No. 308 - Derek Harrison, Bedlington, England
No. 309 - Larry Reynolds, East Rochester, NH, USA
No. 310 - Jane Carville, Wolfeboro, NH, USA
No. 311 - John F. Gecik, Sheffield Lake, Ohio, USA
No. 312 - Keith Simmonds, Tunapuna, Trinidad & Tobago
No. 313 - Eddie Looby, Longbridge, Birmingham, England
No. 314 - David Nash, Coleford, Gloucestershire, England
No. 315 - Randy Taylor, Rochester, NH, USA
No. 316 - Jim/Joanne Gray, Rochester, NH, USA
No. 317 - Patricia Miga of Colleyville, Texas, USA
No. 318 - David Simmonds, Crayford, England
No. 319 - Keith Williams, Kings Worthy, England 
No, 320 - Eddie Looby, Longbridge, Birmingham, England
No. 321 - Gron Roberts, Neath, West Glamorgan, Wales
No. 322 - Julie Lindsay of Rochester, NH, USA
No. 323 - Rich Pardoe of Houston, Texas, USA
No. 324 - Trudy Metzger of Titusville, Florida, USA
No. 325 - Brian Dungate of Brighton, England
No. 326 - Anne & Bruce Smith, Strafford, NH, USA
No. 327 - Mark Roberts of Hostert, Luxembourg
No. 328 - Calfan Dary of Anggabaya, Bali, Indonesia
No. 329 - John F. Gecik, Sheffield Lake, Ohio, USA
No. 330 - Derek Harrison, Bedlington, England
No. 331 - Chris Rogers of Farmington, New Hampshire, USA
No. 332 - Bill Stewart of Leicester, England
No. 333 - Annie Bonnet of Rodez, France
No. 334 - Mark Nichols of Rugby, Warwickshire, England
No. 335 - Patricia Miga of Southlake, Texas, USA
No. 336 - Jim/Joanne Gray, Rochester, NH, USA
No. 337 - Ian Laming, Chippenham, Wiltshire, England
No. 338 - Ian Simpson, Edinburgh, Scotland
No. 339 - Keith Williams, Kings Worthy,  England 
No. 340 - Barbara Trow, Rochester, NH, USA
No. 341 - Julie Lindsay of Rochester, NH, USA
No, 342 - Eddie Looby, Longbridge, Birmingham, England
No. 343 - Calfan Dary of Anggabaya, Bali, Indonesia
No. 344 - Laura Bradford, somewhere in Maine USA
No. 345 - Randy Taylor, Rochester, NH, USA
No. 346 - Mark Roberts of Hostert, Luxembourg
No. 347 - Rich Pardoe of Houston, Texas, USA
No. 348 - Ann Holme of Salisbury, England
No. 349 - Barbara Bierweiler of Ossipee, NH, USA
No. 350 - Bill Stewart of Leicester, England
No. 351 - Ian Simpson, Edinburgh, Scotland
No. 352 - Chris Rogers of Farmington, New Hampshire, USA
No. 353 - Larry Reynolds, East Rochester, NH, USA
No. 354 - David Nash, Coleford, Gloucestershire, England
No. 355 - Derek Harrison, Pegswood, England
No. 356 - John F. Gecik, Sheffield Lake, Ohio, USA
No. 357 - Mark Roberts of Hostert, Luxembourg
No. 358 - Anne & Bruce Smith, Strafford, NH, USA
No, 359 - Mark Nichols of Rugby, England
No. 360 - Keith Williams, Kings Worthy, England 
No. 361 - Matt Mitchell of Glenside, Penn. USA
No. 362 - Julie Lindsay of Rochester, NH, USA
No. 363 - Rich Pardoe of Houston, Texas, USA 
No. 364 - Stephen Wortley, Tooting, London, England
No. 365 - Barbara Bierweiler of Ossipee, NH, USA
No. 366 - Calfan Dary of Anggabaya, Bali, Indonesia
No. 367 - Randy Taylor, Rochester, NH, USA
No. 368 - Eddie Looby, Longbridge, Birmingham, England
No. 369 - Jay Miller, Pasadena, Calif., USA
No. 370 - Jim/Joanne Gray, Rochester, NH, USA
No. 371 - Tamara Brenner, Elmhurst, Illinois, USA  
No. 372 - Derek Harrison, Pegswood, Northumberland, England
No. 373 - Ian Simpson, Edinburgh, Scotland
No. 374 - Chris Rogers of Farmington, New Hampshire, USA
No. 375 - Bill Stewart of Leicester, England
No, 376 - Mark Nichols of Rugby, England
No. 377 - Laura Bradford of Maine or Florida, USA
No. 378 - Larry Reynolds, East Rochester, NH, USA
No, 379 - Mark Roberts of Hostert, Luxembourg
No. 380 - Barbara Trow of Rochester, NH, USA
No. 381 - Barbara Bierweiler of Ossipee, NH, USA
No. 382 - Keith Williams, Kings Worthy, England 
No. 383 - Julie Lindsay of Rochester, NH, USA
No. 384 - Tom Wilson of So. Williamsport, Penn. USA
No. 385 - Anne & Bruce Smith, Strafford, NH, USA
No. 386 - Eddie Looby, Longbridge, Birmingham, England
No. 387 - Garth Higginbotham of Llandudno, Wales
No. 388 - Rich Pardoe of Houston, Texas, USA 
No. 389 - Tamara Brenner, Elmhurst, Illinois, USA  
No. 390 - Jay Miller, Pasadena, Calif., USA
No. 391 - Chris Chatwin of Kenilworth, England
No. 392 - Derek Harrison, Pegswood, Northumberland, England
No. 393 - Randy Taylor, Rochester, NH, USA
No. 394 - Barbara Bierweiler of Ossipee, NH, USA
No. 395 - Leslie Yonce of Richmond, Va., USA 
No. 396 - Bill Stewart of Leicester, England
No. 397 - Calfan Dary of Anggabaya, Bali, Indonesia
No. 398 - Ian Simpson, Edinburgh, Scotland
No. 399 - Carolyn Williams, Texas, USA
No. 400 - Andy Grady, Tutbury, England
No. 401 - Tom Wilson of So. Williamsport, Penn. USA
No. 402 - Julie Lindsay of Rochester, NH, USA
No. 403 - Larry Reynolds, East Rochester, NH, USA

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