The boats of the NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION, and all belonging to them, are kept in roomy and substantial boat-houses, under lock and key, in charge of paid coxswains, under the general superintendence of local honorary committees of residents in the several localities. Each boat has its appointed coxswain at a salary of 8/., and an assistant at '11. a year. The crew consists, in addition, of a bowman, and as many boatmen as the boat pulls oars. The members of the volunteer crews are registered, and wherever practicable, at least double the number of men required are entered on the register. Such men are mostly resident boatmen, fishermen, or Coastguardmen.

On every occasion of going afloat to save life, the coxswain and each of the crew receive alike from the funds of the Institution (whether successful or not) I0»., if by day, and II., if by night; and 4s. each for every time of going afloat for exercise.

A reward of 7s. is given to the man who first brings intelligence of a wreck at such a distance along the coast as not to be in sight of the Coastguard Station or other look-out.

A flag hoisted by day, and the firing of a gun twice, quick, by night, are the well-known signals for calling the crew together.

On boarding wrecks, the preservation of life is the sole consideration. Should any goods or merchandize be brought into the life-boat, contrary to the coxswain's remonstrance, he is authorised to throw them overboard.

The expense of a Life-boat Station averages 800/., and is made up as follows: — Life-boat and her equipment, including Life-belts for the Crew, Skids, and Transporting-carriage £550 Boat-house (average cost) ........ 250 Total £800 The average Annual Expense of maintaining a Life-boat Station is 701.

Such is a brief summary of the chief of the Regulations under which the Life-boats are worked.

How faithfully and with what result they are carried out let the journals of ea?h Life-boat Station and the annals of the Institution tell.

The NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION has now 254 Life-boats under its charge. Every one of these has been specially presented to it, and they save every year from 600 to 700 shipwrecked sailors.

Altogether, the Institution has contributed to the saving of over twenty-one thousand lives.

Despite, however, this fleet of 254 Life-boats, and of 30 others locally provided and supported, and despite the numerous rocket and mortar stations on our coast, there remains the melancholy fact that an average of 700 lives are lost annually on and around our own shores alone, proclaiming solemnly, though silently, that, for humanity's sake, and for the national credit, no exertions should be spared in providing every possible means for the conveyance of succour to the ship- wrecked.

The Institution needs a permanent income of about 30,000?. to maintain its great Life-saving Fleet; and the Committee feel assured that it will never lack it so long as it maintains its boats in the state of thorough efficiency that they are in at the present time, and manned as they are on every emergency by as fearless and noble a class of men as ever our Nelsons and Collingwoods led to battle to uphold our country's honour and glory.

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