WHILE the Institution was develop- ing its life-boat service in the first half of the 19th century another maritime organization was also in its infancy—a federation of port unions which was the precursor of the National Union of Seamen.

Historical Record A short history of the National Union of Seamen, published recently, is available from the union's London headquarters at is. Wages, it says, were 45s- to 55s. monthly for able seamen who were working long hours in the 18 8os, and food on board ship left much to be desired.

Seamen's Diet "Warm water and peas for soup, pork of acrid taste and greenish hue ...

a black liquor full of short sticks called tea ..." is a quotation from the Daily Telegraph of the period. The descrip- tion of the gradual improvement in seamen's working conditions is taken up to the present day and beyond— to the 42-hour week due to begin in April next year..