The Largest Number of Launches for Fourteen Years.

Nineteen-THIRTY-FOUR, like 1933, will be remembered for its long and brilliant summer. In spite of this it was a year of great life-boat activity. The number of launches was 340, the largest number for fourteen years. The number of lives rescued was smaller than in 1933; 354 as compared with 406. Of these lives 276 were rescued by life-boats, and 78 by shoreboats and in other ways. Besides the 354 persons actually saved, another 50 were landed from vessels for rocks on which they might have been in danger.

In addition life-boats saved or helped to save from destruction 54 boats and vessels. This is the same number as in 1932. To find a larger number we have to go back to 1915. Besides saving or helping to save these boats and vessels, life-boats stood by, escorted to safety or helped over 200.

Up to the end of 1933 the Institution had given rewards for the rescue of 63,913 lives since its foundation in 1824.

Services to Foreign Vessels.

Life-boats stood by, or helped in various ways, eleven vessels belonging to seven different countries. Four were Dutch, two Greek, and the other five were from Belgium, Denmark, France, Norway and Spain. In only one case was it necessary to rescue the crew—the crew of five men of the Dutch motor vessel Titia, of Dordrecht. The vessel too was saved when in danger of being driven ashore. Life-boats were also called out to eight other foreign vessels, but their help was not needed.

Services to Yachts and Fishing Vessels.

The year was notable for the large number of services to yachts. Life- boats went out to the help of no fewer than 54 in distress (43 sailing and 11 motor yachts); rescued 50 lives from them; and saved or helped to save 25 of the yachts.

Services to fishing boats, though fewer than in 1933, were again many.

Of the 340 launches, 113 were to fishing boats. Eighty - two fishermen were rescued, and 15 fishing boats were saved or helped to safety.

Five New Motor Life-boats.

Five new motor life-boats went to the coast during the year—to The Lizard and Coverack (Cornwall), Flam- borough (Yorkshire), Cromer (Norfolk), and Maryport (Cumberland). There were, at the end of the year, 124 motor life-boats and 49 pulling and sailing life-boats, making a fleet of 173 life- boats round the coasts of Great Britain and Ireland..