Sunderland, Co. Durham.—At 8.26 on the morning of the 24th of August, 1957, the coastguard telephoned that a man at Whitburn had reported a fishing coble flying a distress signal two and a half miles off Whitburn.

At nine o'clock the life-boat Edward and Isabella Irxin was launched in a moderate sea. A westerly gale was blowing, and it was nearly low water.

The life-boat came up with the fishing coble Mayflower, which had a crew of three and had broken down. She was being blown out to sea, but a Russian drifter was standing by her. The life-boat took her in tow and made for Sunderland, arriving at 11.15.—Re- wards to the crew, £8 8s.; rewards to the helpers on shore, £1 16s..