IN a dock of the Exhibition grounds at the Fisheries Exhibition at Bergen—it is held in the Nygaard Park, which runs down to a river—there are four Life- boats. They are not to be known for Life-boats at a glance, being shaped and rigged in the manner of small pilot-boats.

Eight others like them, and two steam- yachts, make up the fleet of the Nor- wegian National Life-boat Society. Craft of the English pattern would not be practicable. In all Norway there is but one strand from which a land-housed boat could be launched. The cliffs are universal, and go down sheer into the sea; nor is it in the fiords that a Life- boat service is wanted, but out with the fishing fleets, on seas which are peculiarly treacherous and wild. Still, there is something to learn from the management of this Norwegian Society. Like our own Life-boat Institution, it is mainly sup- ported by subscriptions; and while accepting a small State subsidy of 5551.

a year (10,000 kroners), it stands out against Governmental control, and has refused a larger grant Apart from this, it has an annual income of about 2,0002., and it keeps a reserve fund of rather more than double that amount. These resources are not large enough for the needs of the case, but they are steadily growing. They are growing under a system of collection which is quite admirable. Norway is divided for the purpose into twelve districts, with a committee and collectors for each; and the aim of this organisation is to procure, not donations in the first place, but a subscription year by year from every head of a household. Subscribers of one kroner and upwards become members of the society. In this country, if such a system were applied with any intention of enlisting a large part of the population, the difficulty would be to make people realise their indebtedness to the mercan- tile marine, though that indebtedness is real and great. In Norway, which has an immense coast-line, much of the population must be actually engaged in fishing, and is itself a mercantile marine.

But an English working-man can as well afford to give away sixpence as the Norske fisker can spare a penny.

The equipment of these Life-boats is worth describing. Each has a little oil tank in the forward saloon, with pipes running through to the stem. This is found very useful, and called a wave- queller. The life-belts are stuffed, not with cork, but with reindeer hair, which is preferred as less likely to stun a man if the belt, when thrown, should strike him; and a belt of ordinary size will support 12J kilogrammes. In every boat there is a rocket-gun, which can be instantly mounted on a bollard. A folding raft of reindeer-hair lies in little room upon the deck; and for this, on certain services in winter, an ice-raft and runners may be substituted. Finally the captain's medicine-chest has a small stock of first- aid appliances; but they are not so good as those of the St. John Ambulance Association. The cost of such a boat, small enough to be manned by a crew of four, is from 670Z. to 780Z..