The requisite qualities of a life-boatman's life- belt are—

1. Sufficient extra-buoyancy to support a man heavily clothed, with his head and shoulders above the water, or to enable him to support another person besides himself.

2. Perfect flexibility, so as readily to conform to the shape of the wearer.

3. A division into two zones, an upper and lower, so that between the two it may be secured tightly round the waist; for in- no other manner can it be confined sufficiently close and secure round the body without such pressure over the chest and ribs as to materially affect the free action of the lungs, impede the muscular move- ment of the chest and arms, and thereby diminish the power of endurance of fatigue, which, in rowing-boats, is a matter of vital importance.

4. Strength, durability, and non-liability to injury.

The cork life-belts of the NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION possess the first two qualities in a greater degree than any other life-belt, and the third one exclusively.

In addition to these belts a very full equipment of stores is supplied to the Life-boats of the Institution—such as anchors and cables, grapnels and lines, life-buoys, lanterns, rockets, and many other articles, together with portable or launch- ing-skids.