Coverack, Cornwall.—At 5.28 on the afternoon of the 12th of February, 1955, the coxswain reported that he had seen a boat drifting off the Manacles and later stated that a steamer was with her.

At 5.50 the life-boat William Taylor of Oldham was launched in a rough sea, with a fresh north-north-east wind blowing. She found the steamer tow- ing the 20-feet motor launch Tarka and her punt two miles south-south-east of the Manacles. The Tarka had a crew of four. She had been bound for Hel- ford River from Falmouth, but had fouled her propeller. The steamer had been unable to take the four people on board, so the life-boat embarked them and took over the tow. The life-boat- men gave them rum and took the Tarka and her punt to Coverack, arriving at 7.45.—Rewards, £11 18*. 6d..