1st. When you approach a drowning person, assure him, with a loud and firm voice, that he is safe.

2nd. Before jumping in to save him, divest yourself as far and as quickly as possible of all clothes, especially boots and other heavy articles, if there is time ; tear them off if necessary, and at all events loose the foot of your drawers if they are tied, as, if you do not do so, they fill with water and drag you down.

3rd. On swimming to a person, if he be struggling, do not seize him then, but keep off for a few seconds till he gets quiet, for it is sheer madness to take hold of a man when he is struggling in the water, and if you do, you run great risk. If he does clutch you, seize his thumb promptly and turn it sharply back. This will break the clutch. If he takes you round the neck, place your hand on his mouth and nose, and push with all your strength.

4th. When once he is quiet, do not wait until he sinks; but get close to him and take fast hold of the hair of his head, turn him as quickly as possible on to his back, give him a sudden pull, and this will cause him to float; then throw yourself on your back also and swim for the shore, both hands having hold of his hair, you on your back and he also on his, and of course his back to your stomach. In this way you will get ashore sooner and safer than by any other means, and you can easily swim thus with two or three persons.

One great advantage of this method is that it enables you to keep your head up, and also to hold the person's head up you are trying to save. It is of primary importance that you take fast hold of the hair, and throw both the person and yourself backwards. After many experiments it is found preferable to all other methods. You can, in this manner, float nearly as long as you please, or until a boat or other help can be obtained. If the drowning person has too little hair, turn him on his back, place your hands on each side of his face so that your palms cover his ears, and then proceed in the manner just ! indicated. The only difference is that j you hold his head instead of his hair.

j 5th. It is believed there is no such thing as a death-grasp, at least it is very unusual to witness it. As soon as a drowning man begins to get feeble and to lose his recollection, he gradually slackens his hold until he quits it alto- gether. No apprehension need there- ! fore be felt on that head when'attempt- ! ing to rescue a drowning person.

i 6th. After a person has sunk to the bottom, if the water be smooth, the exact position where the body lies may be known by the air-bubbles, which i will occasionally rise to the surface, i allowance being of course made for the motion of the water, if in a tide-way or stream, which will have carried the bubbles out of a perpendicular course in rising to the surface. A body may be often recovered from the bottom before it is too late for resuscitation by diving for it in the direction indicated by these bubbles.

7th. To rescue a person by diving to the bottom, seize him with one hand only, and use the other, in conjunction | with the feet, to raise yourself and the i drowning person to the surface.

! 8th. If you are in the sea, it may sometimes be a great error to try to get to land. If there be a strong "out- setting" tide, and you are swimming either by yourself, or having hold of a person who cannot swim, then get on to your back and float till help comes. Many a man exhausts him- self by stemming the billows for the shore on a back-going tide, and sinks in the effort, when, if he had floated, a boat or other aid might have been obtained.

9th. These instructions apply alike to all circumstances, whether in the roughest sea or in smooth water.

10th. It is very desirable that in their leisure time swimmers should practise the movements which they may be called on to go through in saving their fellow creatures from drowning. This will add greatly to their power and efficiency.FILEY, YORKSHIRE.—At 6 A.M. on the 23rd March the fishing-boats engaged in crab-fishing put to sea for the purpose of hauling up their crab pots. The wind at the time was blowing strongly from the E.N.E.; later in the morning it increased. About 9.30 A.M. the Life- boat Hollon the Third was launched to their help, as their return was attended by considerable danger. The boat re- mained at sea for three hours until all the cobles had regained safety.

GOHLESTON,SUFFOLK.—During a whole N.E. gale and very heavy sea on the 26th March the Coastguard reported at 6.45 A.M. that the Corton Light-vessel was firing signals of distress. The crew of the No. 1 Life-boat Mark Lane were assembled, and the Life-boat, in tow of a tug, proceeded to sea. On reaching the Light-vessel the master reported that a steamer—the SaMo, of Montevideo— had collided with the Light-vessel and damaged her light anc machinery. He requested the Coxswain to return to harbour with all haste and report to the Trinity House that another vessel was required to replace the damaged one, as she was unfit for service. The Cox- swain returned accordingly, and the Trinity House steamer Argus put off to the damaged Light-vessel. As the sea running was so high the damaged vessel could not be replaced. The Trinity House steamer, therefore, stood by her all night, showing a white light as a sub- stitute for the usual revolving red light.

ROBIN HOOD'S BAY, YORKSHIRE.—At } 10.15 P.M. on the 29th March a messenger reported that a vessel was j ashore on the North Cheek of Robin i Hood's Bay. The Life-boat Mary Ann LocJcwood was launched and proceeded to the stranded vessel, which prov.ed to be the s.s. Dunmail, of Newcastle, with fifteen men on board, bound from Nor- denham to Seaham, in ballast. There was a light breeze from east with a thick fog and a rough sea in-shore when the steamer ran aground. The Life-boat stood by the vessel throughout the night, but in the morning there were indi- j cations that the vessel would become a total wreck and it was necessary to rescue the crew. The men were trans- ferred safely to the Life-boat, which conveyed them to Robin Hood's Bay, where they lauded at 6.30 A.M.

RUNSWICK, YORKSHIRE. — Shortly after 1 A.M. on 31st March a rocket and a flare were seen near Kettleness Point during a break in a thick fog. This was reported to the Coxswain of the Life-boat Hester BothscMld,vrho ordered the launch of the boat. She proceeded to the Point, where she found the steamer Pearl, of Goole, in a dangerous position and likely to become a total wreck. Although the breeze was moderate there was a strong ground swell. The crew of the vessel, thirteen in number, were rescued and conveyed in safety to Runswick. The Pearl, at the time of the disaster, was bound from Blyth to the Isle of Wight with a cargo of coal.

NORTH DEAL AND RAMSGATE, KENT.— At 1.50 A.M. on the 1st April, during a dense fog, it was reported that the Gull Light-vessel was firing guns and rockets.

The Charles and Susanna Stephens at once proceeded to sea in tow of the tug, but at 4 A.M. the fog was so thick that they were obliged to anchor. At 7 A.M., although it was still thick, they got under way and proceeded along the edge of the sands, and an hour later they could just make out the vessel in the middle of the sands. The Life-boat proceeded in that direction, but found that the vessel was high and dry. The Life-boatmen then waded to her, and later when the tide made they assisted to get her afloat.

The North Deal Life-boat Charles Dibdin was also launched at about the same time as the Ramsgate boat. When she reached the sands she also found it necessary to anchor on account of the fog, but later she found the vessel and stood by her whilst efforts were made to float her. During the afternoon the efforts to get the vessel off were success- ful, and the Life-boats returned to their stations. The vessel was the steamer Winstanley, of Dublin, and she was bound at the time to Rochester with a cargo of cement.

HARWICH, ESSEX.'—On the 5th April a whole easterly gale, accompanied by snow and sleet showers, swept the North Sea and caused a very rough sea off Harwich. The steam Life-boat City of Glasgow was called out in the morning to a small steamer, but she managed to get out of danger and the Life-boat returned ashore. Soon after 2 P.M. the Coastguard reported another vessel in distress, and the Life-boat again put to sea. She found the brigantine Volant, of Hull, with a crew of six men, bound from London to Hull, in an unmanage- able condition owing to her cables parting. The Life-boatmen were engaged to save the vessel, and they assisted her into the port of Brightlingsea.

HARWICH, ESSEX. — The brigantine Lenore, of Eaversham, carrying a crew of six hands, whilst bound to London on the 5th April, got into difficulties near the mouth of Harwich Harbour, owing to a strong easterly gale. Shortly before 5 P.M. she displayed signals of distress, and the No. 1 Life-boat Ann Fawcett was launched. The Coxswain proceeded to the vessel, and on reaching her the captain stated that he required help, as the anchors were dragging.

Life-boatmen were put on board, and the Coxswain taking charge brought the vessel into harbour.

SOUTHEND-ON-SEA, ESSEX. "— On the night of the 5th April the Life-boat James Stevens No. 9 was called out to a vessel which had stranded on the Black- tail Spit, but on reaching the vessel the master declined any assistance, as he hoped to float his vessel clear on the rising tide. The Life-boat therefore returned ashore, arriving at 4.30 on the 6th April after a rough passage.

An hour later signals of distress were seen on the vessel, and the crew were reassembled. The Life-boat returned and found that the vessel had knocked over the Nore Sand and was in great danger of stranding on the Grain Spit.

The master, realising that he must have help, engaged the Life-boatmen and the services of a fishing smack to get his vessel into safety, and they fortunately succeeded. The vessel was the schooner Martin Gust, of Riga, carrying a crew of seven hands and a cargo of timber.

At the time of the disaster a N.E. gale was blowing with a very rough sea.

SHERINGHAM, NORFOLK.—The whelk boats belonging to Sheringham left for the fishing grounds at about 6 o'clock in the morning on the 8th April. The weather was then fine, with a moderate wind and a moderately smooth sea.

About 8 o'clock the wind began to freshen and the sea to make. It was obviously impossible for the boats to get safely ashore on account of the heavy breaking sea : the Life-boat J. G. Madge was therefore launched and went to their assistance. Six men were taken out of two boats and brought ashore.

The Life-boat then returned and rescued six men from two more boats, towing the boats into safety.

SUNDERLAND, NORTH DOCK, DURHAM.

—The Life-boat George Woofindin was launched at 2.30 P.M. on the 15th April to the assistance of four men in a pleasure boat off Roker. The men had gone out fishing, but when they at- tempted to return they found that the off-shore wind had increased so much that they were unable to make any headway. They then attached a white garment to an oar and waved it as a signal of distress. "When the Life-boat reached the boat they found that the four men were completely exhausted and the boat was half filled with water.

The four men were taken into the Life- boat and their craft was towed back to harbour.

WHITBY, YORKSHIRE. — Twenty-one of the fishing cobles were at sea on the 17th April when a heavy ground swell got up and increased as the tide ebbed, making it quite unfit for the cobles to take the harbour. Between 8 and 9 A.M.

the fishing fleet commenced to gather in the roads; the No. 2 Life-boat John Fielden was therefore launched and warned them not to come in. Seven of the cobles then set sail for Runswick, but the other fourteen remained at anchor, with the Life-boat in attend- ance, until the tide turned. She then accompanied them into safety.

BUCKIE, BANFFSHIRE.—At 9.30 A.M.

on the 19th April the Coxswain of the Life-boat Maria Stephenson observed a small line fishing-boat about six miles to the northward of Buckie, with a signal of distress flying. At the time a whole off-shore gale was blowing, and it was decided to send the Life-boat to the boat's assistance. The Life-boat was transported on her carriage to a suitable launching-place to the west of the harbour, and with some difficulty launched. On reaching the vessel they found that she was the Joseph, of Banff, in a totally helpless condition, with three men on board. The sail of the small boat had blown away, and the rudder also had gone. The Life-boat took the boat in tow and went about four miles farther to the westward, where several other small boats were in difficulties iu endeavouring to make the land. The Life-boat stood by these boats until such time as they appeared to be in safety, and then proceeded to Buckie Harbour with the Joseph in tow.

FENIT, Co. KERRY.—The large four- masted barque Port Stanley, of Glasgow, ran into Ballyheigue Bay, Co. Kerry, on 19th April, mistaking it for the mouth of the Shannon. Tie ship let go her anchors and saved herself from going aground, but remained in a dangerous position close to the shore.

The ship, which is of 2,276 tons, was bound from Portland, Oregon, to Limerick, with 4,000 tons of wheat.

A heavy W.N.W. gale was blowing and the weather was thick with a heavy sea.

At 4.15 P.M. it was reported by telephone that a large ship was driving in on to the rocks and was in such a position that it was expected that she would go to pieces immediately if she struck.

Fortunately, as stated above, the anchors held. The Life-boat John Willmot was promptly ordered out, and reached the ship soon after 6 P.M. At this time the sea was running so high that the captain thought it was advisable to get his crew ashore. The Life-boat was unable to He alongside; the men, twenty-six in number, were, therefore, hauled through the water by a rope to the boat, which returned to Penit and landed them at 10.30 P.M. As four men, including the captain, remained on board, the Life-boat made a second journey at 1.30 A.M. on the 20th idem, and stood by the vessel for the remainder of the night. At 9 A.M. she brought the captain ashore and returned at 2.30 P.M. to stand by the ship. The weather continued very bad, and at 8.30 P.M. the boat brought the last of the men, three in number, into safety.

At this time the wind had changed to S.W., and was blowing a full gale. In the meanwhile steps had been taken to obtain the services of a tug to tow the vessel out of her very dangerous position.

On the 22nd two steamers were ready to take the vessel in tow. The crew- were conveyed to the Port Stanley, and some of the Life-boatmen were also put on board. Communication with the steamers was established and the barque was towed away.

During the lengthy services of the Life-boat in this case, Mr. McKibbon, the Assistant Secretary, was continuously on duty, and the Committee of Manage- ment recognized his zeal by presenting him with a binocular glass.

GORLESTOX, SUFFOLK.—At 9.40 A.M.

on the 21st April it was reported that a shrimp boat was dismasted in the roads and in distress. As it was blowing a moderate gale from S.S.W., with a heavy sea, the No. 1 Life-boat Mark, Lane was launched, and in tow of a tug, proceeded direct to the boat. On coming up with her it was found necessary to put two Life-boatmen on board to secure the wreckage and relieve the boat of some of the water she had shipped. The crew of two men were then taken into the Life-boat and the boat taken in tow. Before all this could be done another shrimp boat was observed close to the Scroby Sands, signalling for help. The Life-boat, as soon as possible, proceeded to her, and on approaching her it was seen that the boat was half full of water. Two men were placed on board to bale her, and communication being established, the boat was also taken in tow, and both were brought into safety. The first boat assisted was the Ernest and the second was the Dove. Both boats belonged to Yarmouth.

CLACTON-ON-SEA, ESSEX.—On 24th April, during fine weather, the Life-boat Albert Edward saved the small cutter yacht Slack Bird and her two occupants.

The vessel stranded on the Buxey Sands during the night and lost her rudder.

Signals were made but were not seen.

Later the cutter drove over the sands into the "Wallet," and the crew, two amateur yachtsmen, determined to try and reach the shore in their small dinghy. In the meanwhile the Black Bird had been seen and the Life-boat launched. She fell in with the dinghy about three miles out with a consider- able amount of water in her, and it is very doubtful whether she would have reached the land in safety. The two men were very glad to be taken into the Life-boat, which then proceeded to the cutter and saved her.

NEWHAVEN, SUSSEX.—During a strong S.W. breeze with a heavy sea on the 29th April the schooner Daniel, of Nantes, stranded on the bar at New- haven. The Life-boat Michael Henry was launched at 5.45 P.M. and pro- ceeded to the vessel. The captain stated that he wanted a tug to tow him off, and requested the Life-boat to stand by him in the meantime. Owing to the state of the tide it was not until 8 P.M. that a tug could get close to the vessel, and the Life-boat established communication between the two. Life- boatmen were also put on board to assist the schooner, and eventually the vessel and her crew of four hands were taken into safety.

NEWLYN, CORNWALL.—The steamer Cragoswald, of Newcastle, whilst bound from Barry to Venice with a cargo of coal, and carrying twenty-seven hands, stranded on the Low Lee Rock in Mount's Bay, in fine weather on the 29th April. The Life-boat Elizabeth and Blanche was launched to her assist- ance and stood by the vessel for three , hours. The captain then asked the Coxswain to land the engineer who was ill, and this was done. The boat then returned to the ship and remained in attendance until 5 P.M. At this time the steamer foundered and became a wreck, all the men on board being rescued by the Life-boat.

WHITBY, YORKSHIRE.—The No. 2 Life-boat John Fielden performed a useful service on the 1st May, in escort- ing six of the fishing cobles, one at a time, into safety. In the early morning when the boats put to sea the weather was fine with a slight swell, but when they returned there was a heavy ground swell breaking outside the harbour entrance. Some of the cobles came in before the Life-boat had gone to their aid and had very narrow escapes of being lost. Three boats took off on the sea and became unmanageable.

These were assisted by ropes from the piers and got in without loss of life.

Considerable excitement prevailed, but the Life-boat stood by the remaining cobles, six in number, as they came into harbour.

MONTROSE, FORFARSHIRE.—Two fish- ing-boats named the Thistle and Mizpah were overtaken when at sea on the 3rd May by a strong gale from S.S.E.

As considerable anxiety was felt for their safety the No. 1 Life-boat Sarah Jane Turner was launched. By the time the boat was afloat the boats could be seen running for shelter under shortened canvas. The Life-boat pro- ceeded down the river and lay inside the bar until about noon, when both vessels got in safely.

NEWBIGGIN, NORTHUMBERLAND. — While the fishing cobles were at sea on the 3rd May a strong wind sprang up from the S.E. Ail the boats managed to land in safety, however, with the exception of one named the Louisa, which had been delayed in hauling in her gear. As the wind was increasing in force it became necessary to launch the Life-boat Ada Lewis, and she stood by the coble until the crew had landed safely..