DIFFICULT TOWS Whitby, Yorkshire.—At 11.5 in the morning of the 28th of November, 1947, the life-boat coxswain picked up a message on his wireless from the local motor fishing vessel Gem, that her rudder had been broken, and the No. 1 motor life-boat Mary Ann Hepworth was launched at 11.45. A fresh north- westerly breeze was blowing, with a rough sea. The life-boat found the Gem four miles east of Skinningrove in tow of the motor fishing vessels Success and Provider, making for Wbitby. The life-boat accompanied them. One and a half miles off the harbour she made fast to the Gem, to steer her from the stern when they went through the rough seas on the harbour bar.

Before they reached them the Provider cast off her tow-rope, but at the-harbour entrance the tow-rope from the Success parted. The Provider at once went alongside the Gem, got her in tow again, and with the help of the life-boat brought her into the harbour. The life-boat arrived back at her station at 3 o'clock that afternoon.—Rewards, £11 17*..