Mallaig, Inverness-shire.—At 9.25 on the night of the 30th of September, 1953, a woman told the coxswain that a bright light was flashing in the sea three miles north-east of Mallaig, and at 9.40 the life-boat Sir Arthur Rose put to sea. There was a rough sea with a south-westerly gale blowing.

The life-boat found the light close to rocks, but could not get within two hundred yards of it owing to the very bad weather. Two men from a nearby village climbed down the rock face, but found nothing. It was thought that the light might have come from a raft, and the life-boat returned to Mallaig and embarked the coastguard shore life-saving company. She land- ed them as near to the light as she could about 3.30 early on the morning of the 1st of October, but the coast- guard decided to wait for daylight before investigating. At dawn the light was seen to be caused by bubbles of gas coming to the surface of the sea and bursting with a flash. The life-boat re-embarked the life-saving company and returned to Mallaig, arriving at 10.15.—Rewards, £21 17s..