THE subject of Anchors is one of such vast importance to the Life-boat Service, and of so deep an interest to the whole sea-faring community, that it is felt that the able Paper, entitled "Anchors: Old Forms and Recent Developments," which was recently read by Capt.

ANTHONY S. THOMSON, R.N.R., C.B., at the Royal United Service Institution, is sure to be acceptable to the readers of The Life-boat Journal.

Among the many remarkable changes and improvements which took place in the last quarter of the nineteenth century, the departure from the old recognised form of anchor, so universally known, is one of the most striking.

The modern stockless anchor bears about as much resemblance to the old- fashioned type as a modern battleship does to a wooden three-decker; and, in fact, if portrayed with the emblems of Faith and Charity, many would be puzzled and hardly recognise it as the emblem of Hope ! In treating his subject, Capt. Thomson traverses a long period of time—viz., from the Phoenicians to the present day, and although all his Paper is interesting, it is chiefly that part which deals with "Recent Developments" which will appeal to the readers of The Life-boat Journal.

It is perhaps unnecessary to remind the public how frequently, not only the lives of the Life-boat's crew, but also those of the vessel in distress, are dependent on the anchor of the Life- boat. It is constantly necessary to anchor a Life-boat to windward of the wreck and veer down to take the crew off; then is the time that the value of a good holding anchor is felt, and not only must it be a good holding anchor, but it must " bite " as soon as it touches the ground, so as to ensure the boat being anchored in exactly the right position. Again, a Life-boat often has to ride out a gale on a lee-shore, or with some danger such as a sand-bank, or a pier, or a lot of groynes to leeward of her.

Exhaustive trials of anchors were carried out by the ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION at Southend-on- Sea, in March, 1888, when the form of anchor now used by Life-boats was decided on, because it gave by far the best results, and experience has since in every way justified the selection. It is called Messrs. Camper & Nicholson's anchor. The anchors which were tried in competition were :—Admiralty pattern (as then used by the Institution), two different pattern Martin's anchors, Wasteney-Smith's, and some other un- named varieties used in Life-boats..