Thurso, Caithness-shire.—During the night of the 28th January the medical officer for Caithness telephoned that Wick Radio had received a message from a trawler that when passing Stroma Island, in the Pentland Firth, she had seen Morse signals that medical help was wanted on the island. The weather was very bad and only the life-boat could have made the trip, but in any case it would have been impossible for anyone to land on the island, and nothing could be done.

On the afternoon of the next day the weather moderated, and at 3 P.M. the motor life-boat H.C.J. put oft, taking with her a doctor, and a man who had crossed from the island on the 23rd, and had been unable to get back. He offered to pilot the life-boat into a creek on the lee side of the island. An E.S.E. breeze was blowing, the sea was rough, and the weather was very cold, with showers of snow and hail.

The life-boat reached Stroma at 5 P.M.

and arrived back at Scrabster with the doctor at 8 P.M.. On the way back the weather again got bad, and the life-boat was left at moorings overnight.

It was arranged that she should take the doctor to the island again on the 1st February. A moderate S.S.E.

breeze was then blowing, with a choppy sea. She was launched at 10.30 A.M., and arrived back at her station at 3.30 P.M.—A donation of twenty guineas was received from the Department of Health for Scotland. Rewards, £19 8s. 9d. and £7 12s..