During a moderate south-westerly gale and heavy sea on the afternoon of the 25th June, a small fishing-boat was observed about four miles to the east of Broadstairs with the crew making signals of distress by placing their jackets on oars. The craft was watched for some time to see if she could make the shore, but as she had got into the set of the tide and was being quickly driven out to sea, the Life-boat was launched without delay and made for the distressed boat.

When the Life-boat came up with her she was eight miles from the station and the crew of three men quite ex- hausted. They were transferred to the Life-boat, their boat being taken in tow and Broadstairs reached safely some three hours later. The boat in question was the fishing-boat Aboukir of Margate belonging to Mr. R. Burleton and two days later the following letter was re- ceived from him by the Honorary Secre- tary :— "Margate, 26 June, 1906.

" DEAR SIR,—I wish to express my gratitude to the members of the Broad- stairs Life-boat for their promptitude in putting off yesterday and rescuing my friends and self, who were out in my boat fishing and were carried away to sea by the wind and tide.

• " I am, yours faithfully, (Signed) " R. BURLETON.".