The Royal National Life-boat Institution agreed to a request made at the International Life-boat Confereri that it should act as a distributing centre for information which may be of general interest to all Life-boat Socien The Institution recently sent a request to all Life-boat Societies overseas to supply up-to-date information on U strength of their fleet and the nature of their finances. The following table is based on the answers received Country Name of Society Strength of Fleet Nature of Finances Belgium Section of Administration de la Marine, Ministere des Communications.

Canada* Government of Canada (Department of Transport).

Chile Cuerpo de Voluntaries " Botes Salvavidas".

Denmark Bestyreren af Redningsvaesenet .

Finland Suomen Meripelastusseura I Finlands Sjoraddningsallskap.

France Societe Centrale de Sauvetage des Naufrages.

Societe des Hospitaliers Sauveteurs Bretons.

Germany Deutsche Gessellschaft zur Rettung Schiffbriichiger.

Iceland Slysavarnafelag Islands.

Italy Societa Siciliana Salvataggi (Palermo).

Japan Nippon Suinan Kyusaikai.

Netherlands Koninklijke-Noord-en-Zuid- Hollandsche Redding- Maatschappij.

Koninklijke Zuid - Hollandsche Maatschappij Tot Redding Van Schipbreukelingen.

New Zealand The Summer Life-boat Institution.

Norway Norsk Selskab til Skibbrudnes Redning.

Poland PoJskie Ratownjctwo Okretowe.

Portugal Institute de Socorros a Naufragos.

Spain Sociedad Espanola de Salvamento de Naufragos.

Sweden Svenska Sallskapet for Raddning af Skeppsbrutne.

Turkey I Denizcilik Bankasi T.A.O.

| (Turkish Maritime Bank).

| (Coastguard).

U.S.A. United States Coast Guard.

U.S.S.R. Soviet Emergency Rescue Service.

3 motor life-boats.

3 motor life-boats.

3 motor life-boats.

23 motor life-boats.

19 pulling and sailing lifeboats.

16 shore stations with rocket apparatus.

3 patrolling rescue-cruisers.

13 motor life-boats.

10 shore stations with rocket apparatus.

48 motor life-boats.

4 pulling and sailing life-boats.

17 shore stations with rocket apparatus.

8 motor life-boats.

21 motor beach patrol boats.

32 pulling beach patrol boats.

30 motor life-boats.

5 shore stations with rocket apparatus.

3 motor life-boats.

4 patrolling rescue cruisers.

14 pulling surf boats.

89 shore stations with rocket apparatus.

1 ambulance aircraft.

1 tug.

30 motor life-boats.

67 pulling life-boats.

26 motor life-boats.

16 shore stations with rocket apparatus.

8 motor life-boats.

5 shore stations with rocket apparatus.

1 motor life-boat.

1 pulling life-boat (reserve).

27 patrolling rescue cruisers.

32 shore stations with rocket apparatus.

6 patrolling rescue cruisers.

7 life-boats.

2 salvage tugs.

20 motor life-boats.

23 pulling and sailing lifeboats.

29 shore stations with rocket apparatus.

8 motor life-boats.

8 patrolling rescue cruisers 12 motor life-boats.

1 motor life-boat.

8 pulling and sailing life-boats 15 coastguard stations with rocket apparatus.

1,411 motor boats.

1,840 pulling boats.

72 life-boats and Tenders.

14 salvage tugs.

State financed.

State financed.

Voluntary contributions wffll small State grant.

State financed.

Voluntary contributions will small State and municij&j subsidies.

Voluntary contributions bti with State subsidies fi maintenance and new co| struction.

Voluntary contributions wij) State and municipal suM sidies.

Solely by voluntary contriW tions.

Voluntary contributions State and municipal sidies.

Financed by the shipping cot pany of which it forms pan Voluntary contributions wil municipal subsidies.

Solely by voluntary contrihj tions.

Solely by voluntary contriM tions.

Voluntary contributions wj| a municipal grant.

Until 1955 solely by volunW contributions. Small Stal subsidy now given.

State financed.

Voluntary contributions State subsidies.

Voluntary contributions vrti subsidies from official «j ganisations.

Voluntary contributions wftj donations from towns art villages along the coast Financed by Turkish Maritia Bank.

State financed.

State financed.

* The Canadian Life-saving Service is co-ordinated with the Air-Sea Rescue Services.

A life-boat service is in the course of being established in Uruguay and is to be financed by voluntary contrib tions..