BROWSING through earlier issues of THE LIFE-BOAT is always a fascinating occupation.

Recently we have been sent to the files in search of information on the old tubular life-boats, in which several members of the public have shown an interest. These early tubular boats, which were later replaced by more orthodox designs, have a surprisingly familiar appearance and it could surely be said that they were the ancestors of the modern I.R.B. rubber boats ? LIGHTHOUSES However, a century ago THE LIFE-BOAT was not especially concerned with the tubular boats. The July and September issues, 1865 (which were "Price 3d. with illustrations"), ran excellent feature articles on the lighthouses round the coatts.

The July issue reported, among information on additional stations and new life-boats, that the Institution had just renovated the life-boat station at Holy Island, Northumberland, and placed a new life-boat and transporting carriage there. This new life-boat was a 32-foot double-banked boat named Grace Darling "after the heroine who many years ago distinguished herself in saving life from shipwreck near Holy Island".

A description of the famous rescue was given, and the information that Grace's father, William Darling, had died on the 2ist of May last, at Bamburgh, in his Both year. About a fortnight before he died the life-boat bearing his daughter's name had arrived on its station.

ANSTRUTHER The July issue also reported the decision to establish a life-boat station at Anstruther. This came about because "a benevolent lady, resident in Cheltenham" had given the Institution £600 to establish this station and equip it with a life-boat to be named the Admiral FitzRoy, "in commemoration of his scientific efforts to discover the Law of Storms, with the benevolent view to diminish the Loss of Life on our Coasts".

Admiral FitzRoy's obituary is printed in this issue. He was in his youth in command of the famous Admiralty survey ship Beagle, working off South America, and was a pioneer of scientific weather forecasting.

A GLORIOUS SUMMER Those who say that summers were better in the past will find support in the October 1865 issue of THE LIFE-BOAT. Lamenting the great increase of "melancholy deaths by the seaside", due to the fact that so few pleasure seekers could swim, a report noted that, "The glorious weather tempted everybody to be either on the water or in it.... Every year aquatic sports become more and more popular amongst us .. ." There is a familiar ring about that old report - though fortunately nowadays a greater proportion of those who seek their pleasures on the water can swim..