On 10th February, at 2.45 in the afternoon, when a whole gale from the S.E.

was blowing with a heavy sea, it was reported at Stromness that the S. S Cormorant, of Kirkwall, was in distress in Eynhallow Sound. The Motor Lifeboat was launched, and reached the Sound, which is approximately twenty miles from Stromness, at seven in the evening. Nothing was seen of the vessel, which had, in fact, been able to continue her voyage undamaged, and the Coxswain signalled that he was returning ashore. These signals were received, and the boat was expected back at Stromness about midnight.

She did not arrive, and at four the following morning the Honorary Secretary arranged for a drifter to go in search of her, he himself, with a part of signalmen, searching the coast by motor car. At daybreak the Life-boat was seen from Marwick Head, and at nine in the morning the drifter picked her up and towed her back to Stromness, which was reached at 11.30 in the morning, 20 1/2 hours after the Life-boat had left the station.

The Life-boat had rounded the Brough of Birsay, some six miles on the way home, and as no lights or land were then visible, and as the gale was so strong and the sea so heavy, as to make progress very difficult, the Coxswain decided to stand on and off until daylight. At four in the morning the petrol tanks ran dry, and the boat then proceeded under sail alone. The District Assistant Surveyor of Machinery was sent to enquire into the failure of the petrol supply, and it was found that, while the amount which the Boat can carry is sufficient to last for 16 1/2 hours, with the engine running at full speed, the petrol was, in fact, exhausted in thirteen hours.

The reason for this was that on the way to Eynhallow Sound the Boat was under sail and motor-power before a south-east gale of exceptional severity, and as the sails relieved the pressure the engine was running a third as fast as its normal speed. These facts are of considerable importance, since it was widely and incorrectly announced in the press that there had been a " failure of the engine." It should also be noted that some time ago, in view of the long distances which the Stromness Boat often has to travel, the Committee of Management decided to build for this Station one of the new 60-foot Twin-Screw Barnett Motor Lifeboats.

This Boat will have two 90-h.p. engines and a radius of action of 100 to 150 miles. In the opinion of the Honorary Secretary, the night was one of the worst ever experienced by the Crew, and they suffered severely from the strain and exposure. In these circumstances the Committee of Management granted extra monetary rewards to Coxswain and Crew, and Letters of Thanks were sent to the Honorary Secretary, to Captain Swanson of the Mail Steamer St. Ola, who acted as Pilot to the drifter, to several Postal Officials, and to others who gave valuable help.