Stromness, Orkneys.—At 1.15 early on the morning of the 4th of May, 1957,the Kirkwall coastguard telephoned to say a message had been received that a vessel was ashore in Hoy Sound.

The life-boat Archibald & Alexander M. Paterson put out at 1.20 in a smooth sea. There was a strong northerly wind blowing and it was high water.

The life-boat found the fishing vessel Snurp VII, of Bergen, with a crew of nine at the Point of Ness. A rope was made fast, but before the fishing vessel had begun to be pulled off the rope parted. The life-boat stood by until the Snurp VII had settled down on the ebb tide, and as the vessel was in no immediate danger the life-boat returned to her station, arriving at 5.45. She put out again at 9.30 and returned to the fishing vessel. A tow rope was put aboard and with the help of the fishing boat Fame, which had also come to help, towing opera- tions started at 12.15. Shortly after- wards the fishing boat Diligent also arrived and helped with the tow. The Snurp VII refloated on the flooding tide at 12.34, and all four boats made for Stromness harbour, the life-boat arriving at 12.55.—Rewards to the crew, £22 5s.; rewards to the helpers on shore, £1 16s..