Dummies from Aeroplanes: New Regulations.

IN the last issue of The Lifeboat two false alarms were recorded. In each case a parachute, with a dummy attached, had been dropped into the sea by an aeroplane, and the dummy was mis- taken for a man. In one case the Selsey Motor Life-boat was launched. In the other the Yarmouth (Isle of Wight) Motor Life-boat was manned, but before putting out made inquiries by telephone of the seaplane station at Calshot, and found that airmen were out practising dropping parachutes with dummies.

The Institution brought these two cases to the notice of the Board of Trade, and the Board has arranged with the Air Ministry that wherever possible these exercises of aircraft will for the future be held out of sight of land or shipping. Where this is not possible all Life-boat Stations within twenty- five miles of the exercises will be warned.

Lighted Buoy Mistaken for Wreck.

On 6th October the new Motor Life- boat at Weymouth was called out just after midnight, as a vessel was reported to have gone ashore under Southwell, and a light could be seen. A gale "was blowing with a very heavy sea, and the weather was cold,"with torrents of rain.

The Board of Trade Eocket Apparatus was also called out. The Life-boat searched Hope Cove and then went towards Portland Bill, but could find no sign of a wreck. Finally she returned to her Station at 4.30 a.m. Next day the shore was searched for wreckage, but nothing was found, and the Lighthouse keepers on Portland Bill reported later that a lifebuoy with a calcium light had floated round the Bill. Evidently the buoy's light had been mistaken for a ship's, and this is another to be added to the long list of false alarms..