At 11.30 A.M. on the 2nd December the S.S.E.

gale increased rapidly until it was blowing a strong gale, and as some of the fishing-boats belonging to Stone- haven were at sea, the Life-boat Alex- ander Slack was launched to their assistance. She remained afloat for some hours, and stood by two local boats and seven of the boats belonging to Gourdon, until they had all succeeded in making the harbour in safety. One of the Gourdon boats had to be aban- doned on account of having sprung a very serious leak, but the crew were taken off by another motor fishing- boat, which came into Stonehaven Harbour with the double crew..