THE false alarms which call out life- boats are very varied. On the 26th October last, with a gale blowing, the Plymouth motor life-boat put out— because a cow had gone wandering.

At 6.30 in the evening the coastguard at Mothecombe reported distress sig- nals. The crew of the life-boat were summoned and she left her moorings.

The honorary secretary meanwhile got throBgh to the coastguard for further infojjflation, and was told that the lights een were not distress signals.

The life-boat was recalled.

What had happened was that a cow had wandered away and gone over the cliff8* and the lights were the lanterns of the farmer and his men searching for her along the shore. It was these that, in the rough weather, had looked to the coastguard to be lights flashing at sea.

Awards amounting to £2 12s. 6d. were made to the crew.

At North Sunderland, at 6.30 on the morning of 18th January, a gale was blowing from the south with a heavy sea running and showers of rain. The coastguard reported red rockets seen to the north of the harbour, and the motor life-boat was launched. She searched northwards for five miles, and east to the Longstone Lighthouse, but could find no ship in distress. After being out for two hours she returned.

Later it was discovered that a chim- ney had been on fire and what was thought to be red rockets was burning soot which the gale was carrying sea- wards. Awards amounting to £20 5s.

were made to the crew for their search..