• As gracious as its subject, Salt- Water Palaces by Maldwin Drummond (Debrett, £8.95) recalls the halcyon days of the large private yacht and, in the words of the publishers: '. . . guides the reader gently below, down the carved companionway, wandering on rich carpet from saloon to stateroom, listening to the conversations and looking about, through the medium of logs, photographs and private archives and the now rare memory of those who enjoyed such a life.' A leisurely subject for leisurely browsing, maybe, but, as Lord Mountbatten pointed out in his introduction to the book completed a few days before his death, such yachts have played a useful part in ship development and some of the finest craftsmanship in Britain has been employed in their building.

The author, a cruising yachtsman of great experience, is a member of the RNLI Committee of Management and also a former chairman of the Sail Training Association.—J.D.

• Reed's Nautical Almanac 1980 (Thomas Reed Publications) is now available. The change of times of tidal predictions to GMT throughout will be generally welcomed as will the extension of tidal and other information as far as Gibraltar—a sign of the broadening of cruising areas. The increase in price to £6.95 may not be so welcome but this in fact represents only 11 per cent advance on last year. The description of the change in use of RDF radiobeacons using the A2* system will explain why some people thought they were having difficulties in picking up such stations as Portland Bill.—E.J.

• In recording the history of British herring fishing in his book The Driftermen (Tops'l Books, £5.50), David Butcher has left the telling of the tale largely to the fishing folk of Lowestoft.

It is, therefore, mostly their own memories, told first hand in their own words—and all the more valuable and enjoyable for that. A glossary helps the reader with specialised local, technical and nautical words and the book is well illustrated with line drawings by Syd Brown and with photographs.—J.D.

• West Mersea is a young station, dating from the introduction of inshore lifeboats, so that by writing its story in Five Minutes to Launch A. H. 'Tony' Purnell has laid an unusually good foundation for the compiling of a detailed history as the years go by. Thestory begins with the formation of a local Mersea Rescue Service in 1960 and goes on to tell of the establishment of an RNLI ILB station in 1963 with a D class inflatable, to be superseded in 1972 by an Atlantic 21.

The booklet is available from the author at 7 Victory Road, West Mersea, Colchester, Essex CO5 SLY, price 75p plus 15p postage and packing: all proceeds to the RNLI.—J.D.

• It is a pity that the winter issue of the journal comes out after Christmas because a number of books which would make good presents have been received. Regular readers of yachting magazines will be familiar with the name and cartoons of Mike Peyton. His fourth book Finish with Engines (Nautical Publishing, £2.45) gives a further, humorous look at some of the predicaments in which yachtsmen may find themselves.

Up the Creek with Old Harry by J. D.

Sleightholme, (Adlard Coles, £1) is another lighthearted book. The hilarious antics of Old Harry, who makes the most mundane of tasks and situations take on a whole new light and meaning, have once again been collected into book form, to give sailors and landlubbers alike immense enjoyment.

Lovers of old nautical photographs will find Sailing Fishermen and Steam Fishermen, (Tops'l Books, £1.75 each) of great interest. Photographs, some before unpublished, from the Ford Jenkins collections and a narrative by Colin Elliot, give a detailed insight into the fishing industry around Lowestoft, from the late 19th century almost up to present day.

Ark Royal was the pride of the British fleet from 1955 until she was paid off in February last year. Paul Beaver has produced a fine pictorial history of the Royal Navy's last conventional aircraft carrier, which was, of course, commanded from 1975 to 1976, by Rear Admiral W. J. Graham, now director of the RNLI. The book is titled simply Ark Royal (Patrick Stephens Ltd, £4.95).

Reminiscences of peace-time sailing and wartime air sea rescue service with the RAF have been brought together into Airman at the Helm, by Eric Blackman (Kenneth Mason, £6.95).

The author's descriptions of the workof RAF high speed rescue launches including the rescue of seven of a nine-man crew of a Flying Fortress will be of interest to all those concerned with saving life at sea.

As it is so easy to make expensive mistakes, A. A. Painter's book, Consumer Protection for Boat Users, (Nautical Publishing, £3.45), will be welcomed by anyone buying, selling or owning a boat. The book covers such subjects as making a good contract; buying a second-hand yacht; employing a surveyor; buying on credit; and going to court.

Practical Sailing by Wendy Fitzpatrick, (Ward Lock, £4.95), not only gives clear, useful advice to inexperienced sailors on the rules of sailing, how boats work and how to forecast the weather, but also delves into the complex world of the classic yacht races. Colour plates and photographs make the book as interesting to look at as it is to read.—S.J.G.

• Lloyd's Register of Shipping has produced a new booklet, Marine and Industrial Services, which summarizes all its activities in the fields of shipping and industry. Addresses of its principal offices are also given. Available from Lloyd's Register of Shipping, 71 Fenchurch Street, London, EC3M 4BS..