THE want having been often felt of some general system of signals for intercommu- nication, on occasions of shipwreck, between life-boat stations when within signal distance of each other, the Committee have caused the following simple plan to be prepared, and have supplied the various stations of the Society with the necessary rockets, signal lights, flags, and flag-posts, for carry- ing the same into effect.

It will be readily conceived that the cir- cumstances attending shipwrecks and life- boat service are such as to make any complicated or extended system of signals for use on such occasions altogether imprac- ticable, and that the extremest brevity and simplicity are indispensable.

In preparing this sheet of signals that fact has been borne in mind, and no more has been attempted than is absolutely neces- sary, or than can be readily practised by an undisciplined body of men, such as the fishermen and other boatmen who, for the most part, form the life-boats' crews on our coasts.

A circular letter has been sent to each life-boat station, with the following de- scription of the signals and the means for making them :— i " To enable the accompanying system of signals | to be carried into effect, you will in a few days ; receive a Tin Box, containing 12 Red and 12 i Green Meteor Rockets, 12 Red and 12 Green ! patent red hand Signal Lights (with 2 dischargers for igniting them by percussion), and 6 common ; fusees or portfires. : " Also a bundle of staves for the rockets, a portable tripod stand from which to fire them, and two red flags, one for use ashore, the other for the boat, to be always kept in her. ' " The Rockets burst with a red or green star, i which remains alight for about 15 or 20 seconds.

In discharging them, the thick-pointed end of the staff must be pushed hard into or through the socket at the side of the rocket to prevent the latter leaving the staff and spoiling its flight, , They should be thrown up perpendicularly. -" The Hand-lights ignite by a blow at the end ; of the discharging handle, which drives a wire needle into them. They will burn for about j three-quarters of a minute. I " The Portfires have to be lit with a common match or fusee, and will burn about 15 minutes, " The Rockets and Hand-lights will be painted j the same colour as that which they exhibit when ignited, so that they may be readily distinguished | when required for use. i " There are two dischargers sent, so that one can be used in the boat, and the other on the shore.

" The Tin Box should be kept in a dry spot, in the loft, and one (of the keys might be hung up there, and the other at the Coxswain's house.

" To the Honorary Secretary of the Branch.' With a view to give information to neigh- bouring life-boat stations when they are within short distances of each other, and also to vessels in distress, the Committee of the 'Institution have directed that the following Signals be in future adopted;— PRELlMINARY— RED to signify a danger seen requiring help.

GREEN to signify that help was about to be, or has been, afforded.

NIGHT SERVICE— 1. On a vessel being seen on shore or in danger, or signals of distress from any vessel being observed, or on Rockets being thrown up from any light- ship, two Rockets, bursting with a. Bed Star, to be thrown up at two or three minutes' interval at a life-boat station. To be answered by a Red- Star Rocket.

This signal would serve the double purpose of informing the adjoining life-boat stations that the danger was seen and the life-boat about to be launched, and of intimating to the crew of the endangered vessel that help was preparing for them.

2. As soon as the life-boat has been launched, a Rocket bursting with a Green Star to be thrown up.

This signal would inform the adjoining life- boat stations that the life-boat was on its way to the wreck.

3. On arriving near the distressed vessel, a Red Percussion Hand-light to be displayed by the life-boat.

This would show to the life-boat stations on shore that the life-boat had arrived at the vessel, and would likewise inform those in distress that help was close at hand.

4. If in consequence of there being a larger number of persons in the vessel than could be taken into the life-boat, or of any accident to the latter, further aid should be required, then the life-boat to continue to burn Red Hand-lights, at short intervals, until answered from the shore by a Red Hand-light or Red-star Rocket.

5. On the safe arrival of a life-boat with the whole or part of a wrecked crew on shore, a Green Hand-light, or Green-star Rocket, to be shown at the station, or at the place of landing.

This would inform the adjoining life-boat stations that the whole or part of the shipwrecked men had been safely landed.

DAY SERVICE— A Red Flag to be substituted for the Red Lights and Red-star Rockets, and a Wheft for Green Lights and Green-star Rockets.

NOTE.—Rockets are not sent to all stations, but only to those where they are considered to be necessary.