At about 8.30 P.M. on the 5th January the coastguard telephoned that a vessel seaward of Buchan Ness lighthouse was showing distress signals. The life-boat coxswain was ill, and the motor life-boat Duke of Connaught was launched at 8.40 P.M. in charge of the second coxswain. A moderate S.W. breeze was blowing with a heavy ground swell. The life-boat found the Aberdeen steam trawler Ben Strome stranded on the Skerry Rock, about four miles south of Peterhead. She had a heavy list to port, the sea was awash on her decks at times, and she was making water in the engine-room.

The life-boat went alongside and res- cued the crew of ten, landing them at Peterhead at 9.10 P.M. At 11 P.M., at the request of the master, she re- turned to the trawler, and found that she had been washed clear of the rocks, and was drifting about in a sinking condition. The master and two life- boatmen went on board and the life-boat towed her to Peterhead.

—Property Salvage Case..