• E. C. B. Lee, O.B.E., c.Eng., F.R.I.N.A., and Kenneth Lee, M.B.B.S., L.R.C.P., M.R.G.S., D.I.H., are to be congratulated on their book Safety and Survival at Sea, (Cassell & Co., price £2.50). A vast amount of time has been taken to compose a most comprehensive anthology which contains accounts of survival since man first attempted to travel by sea. It must be remembered that in most cases the facts have been distorted by the survivor's physical condition, in some cases to the extent of delirium, through exposure, dehydration and starvation. It is impossible for one person to review a book which covers such a multitude of subjects — seamanship, fire-fighting, ship construction and design, damage control, communications, life-saving equipment and emergency medicine. While I enjoyed reading it and learnt a lot from it, it would appear more a book of reference than a textbook. The publishers suggest that it should be used by numerous organisations as a textbook, but most of these have their own specialised teaching manuals, and one cannot imagine this book superceding the Ministry of Defence Seamanship Manual or the excellent handbooks on survival which are already in use for scouts and others taking part in the Duke of Edinburgh's Awards.

From a medical point of view it is fairly comprehensive, but does not compare with Exploration Medicine published by John Wright & Sons. Dr. Lee does not mention external cardiac massage as an essential part of resuscitation. The senior author makes only a small reference to one of the commonest accidents at sea, the capsizing or 'knock down' of small sailing boats.

Most sailing schools would criticise him for not giving more details on how to right a dinghy and he makes no reference to the importance of having an adequate bailer or bucket. As secretary of the R.N. Life Saving Committee he has more knowledge of the work done on life jackets in recent years than most people, but he does not do justice to this subject. Although one cannot help criticising it, it is a book I shall certainly read again.'—F.W.B.• With the publication of Dunbar Life-boat Station (copies may be obtained, price 20p, from Dr. W. J. Guild, Anchorholm, 188 Grange Lodge, Edinburgh, EH9 2DZ, or Mr. W.

Gilmour, 'Viewforth', North Road, Dunbar, East Lothian) Dr. Guild has added to his many other voluntary services to the R.N.L.I. by producing an admirable short history of the Dunbar life-boat station. The story is a fascinating one, dating back to the year 1808, when the first Dunbar life-boat came into service and was called out to effect its first rescue the day after becoming operational.

In addition to recounting outstanding rescues by the various life-boats stationed at Dunbar, Dr. Guild gives much other interesting historical information. The life-boat which went to Dunbar in 1865 was, we learn, presented by a direct descendant of William Wrallace, and the day of her arrival at her station was declared a public holiday. Excellent photographs of different periods are included, and the story is finally brought up-to-date by the revelation that the inflatable IRB now stands in the place in the boathouse once occupied by the old pulling and sailing life-boats.

One criticism which may be offered is that the author is so modest that he does not even append his name to this most useful short work.—P.H.

0 Seamanship in Small Open Boats, by Ken Duxbury (Pelham Books, £2.25), covers a wide variety of seafaring subjects in some detail. Indeed, the most obvious criticism might be levelled against the title, which really gives little idea of the real scope of the book. Not every seaman will agree with all Ken Duxbury's opinions and perhaps it would be strange if they did, since 'Different ships, different long splices' has always applied in nautical matters. It is sufficient that there is a mass of useful and interesting information and some sensible instruction in this book and it is good value for any yachting and boating man, whether he favours small open boats or majestic schooners for his cruising.

Wrhether some of the navigational arrangements suggested are necessary or really practical in a small open boat must be open to question.

Small sailing craft move slowly and draw very little water so that cross bearings, running fixes and vertical sextant angles can rarely be necessary.

For coastal work the ability to visualise one's position with a navigator's eye is invaluable but of course it needs practice. At the same time one must walk before one runs and no-one will quarrel with the simple navigational exercises suggested which will also add interest to the trip.

Among other illustrations are some amusing little line drawings by the author.—E.W.M.• Norspec 70: The North Sea Spectrum (Thomas Reed Publications, price £10.50), covers the proceedings of a conference on the ships, materials, equipment and problems involved in the exploitation of the North Sea. It runs to be about 300 pages and is profusely illustrated with more than 150 photographs, drawings, graphs and charts.

Norspec 70 was the first occasion on which an interdisciplinary discussion was held on the exploitation of the North Sea. In four days papers were read covering a wide variety of related subjects. These were woven together by the thread of common interest. It is very easy to see that the fisherman, the oilman, the pipelayer and the dredger operator are interested in the same sea areas and all equally interested in how accurate the weather forecast will be or what sea state they can reasonably expect at a certain time.

High on the list of subjects which were repeatedly discussed was the sand waves which are found in certain areas of the North Sea.

Before the advent of the very large ship, it made little difference whether or not these sand waves moved or for that matter whether they existed at all. However, these sand waves have been the subject of much research and considerable anxiety. It is obvious that they move though it is not really known why. They appear unexpectedly and as suddenly apparently disappear.

This gave rise to discussion on the methods of sounding employed and how to achieve greater accuracy.

Wave data in the North Sea brought a surprise. A week or two before the conference (November, 1970), a wave of some 65 ft. had been forecast and a 70 ft. wave reported. This brought a number of speakers on their feet. The most interested parties of course were rig operators and the men who have to service the rigs- Discussing wave gauges it was said that some of these had been moved from their moorings and parts of them stolen. From this rose the question of policing the North Sea and the legalities involved.—B.C.

• The World Saves Life, by Maurice Rickards (Longman Group, price £1.20), is one of a series which seeks to show how the world has come to co-operate in surmouting some of the problems it faces — the reverse side of the international coin when one considers how destructively competitive the world community has so often proved itself to be.

In 'The World Saves Life', Maurice Rickards seeks to trace the efforts by which nations have come together to save life. It is an interesting progress. Starting in the days when it was every man for himself, and few safety precautions were dreamed of, it covers the expansion of the railway when terrible train accidents were commonplace. It looks into the future when stranded astronauts will be able to return to earth wrapped up in their own cocoon.

Perhaps the most interesting sections deal with the beginning of the International Red Cross and the advent of spare-part surgery.

There is a short but not very comprehensive section dealing with search and rescue at sea.

The World Saves Life is attractively produced with some interesting old prints and many excellent photographs. It should make part of an easy-to-read and informative series.—A.B.

• The World Fights Fire, also by Maurice Rickards, is in the same series and costs £1.20.

Not exactly life-boat but clearly the risk is the same. Well illustrated with many up-to-date fire pictures, including a number in colour, it gives details about fire-fighting tugs and a photograph is shown of the revolutionary BP Firemaster floating tower, with nine powerful jets, which the reviewer saw tested in its prototype stage in the early 1960s.

Maurice Rickards has wide experience as a designer and editorial consultant and is perhaps best known for his creative contributions to international fund-raising campaigns for refugees. He was responsible for devising the title 'Christian Aid' and designed the 'hungry man' figure which features as the organisation's housemark.—C.R.E..