THE ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION is a charitable institution, incorporated by Royal Charter, for the purpose of saving life from shipwreck.

As however a rigid adherence to the precise object of the Institution would lead to the loss of much valuable property, and at the same time be unjust to the Life-boats' crews, composed for the most part of men whose calling is to render property salvage services, the Institution permits the Life-boats' crews to use its boats for such services under the following regulations:— 1st.-—The Life-boat is not to be launched in competition with, or to the injury of, private interests for property salvage purposes when lives are not in danger, excepting under special circumstances, with the sanction of the Honorary Secretary of the Local Branch or of some other authority connected with the Local Committee.

2nd.—When a Life-boat has been launched for the purpose of saving life, and it is found on arriving at the vessel in danger that the master, or other responsible person in charge, wishes to engage the services of the Life-boat's crew to endeavour to save the vessel, the Life-boat's crew are at liberty to accept an engagement with such master, or other responsible person in charge, for this purpose, and to make use of the Life-boat under the following conditions:— A. That all reasonable care be taken of the Life-boat and its gear.

B. That it be clearly understood that the position of the Life-boat's crew towards the Institution is changed from a Life-boat crew endeavouring to save life, and entitled to be paid for such endeavours by the Institution, to a party of salvors who have borrowed the Lite-boat for property salvage purposes, for the remunera- tion of which services they are to look to the person in charge of the vessel who has engaged them, a certain proportion of such remuneration (the proportion being, in accordance with the Rules of the Institution, founded on Local custom) being paid to the Institution for the loan of the Life-boat.

C. Should the attempts of the Life-boat's crew to salve the vessel be successful, but the amount of salvage money paid them be less than the amount they would have been entitled to for an endeavour to save life, the difference will be made good by the Institution. Should, however, they be unsuccessful in salving the vessel they will be paid by the institution as though they had launched for the purpose of saving lite.

3rd.—If the Life-boat be launched for the purpose of saving life, and it be found on reaching the vessel that there is any immediate probability of efforts to float her, or to place her out of danger, meeting with success, and the Life-boat's crew be not required to salve property, but merely to remain at hand in case it should be found necessary to desert the vessel, it shall be permissible for the Boat to remain if the Coxswain deem it practicable, but this service will be regarded as a life-saving service to be paid for by the Institution, and not a property salvage service to be remunerated by the vessel.

It must be clearly understood, however, that this regulation relates to immediate efforts only, which may be considered to extend to one hour after the high water immediately following the launching of the Life-boat. Any claim for extra payment from the Institution for this special service must be accompanied by a letter or certificate from the master, or other responsible person in charge of the vessel, setting forth that the service was rendered at his request and the time it occupied.

The attendance of the Life-boat and its crew during any lengthened operations at the request of the master, or other responsible person in charge of the vessel, whether assistance is given in such operations or not, will be considered a property salvage service, and will not be paid for by the Institution.

4th.—The Life-boats' crews are strictly prohibited from making any claim on a vessel for life salvage, as such services are paid for by the Institution.

By Order of the Committee, CHARLES DIBDIN, May, 1884. Secretary.