What's the cover story? The cover of the Spring issue of The Lifeboat certainly sparked some lively correspondence last quarter. Some of you thought it was a refreshing change, others weren't so keen.

Here follows just a few of the letters we received...

Appalled and disappointed, that was my reaction to your Spring front cover. Chris Taylor's description and arty cliches didn't help either, just what was he talking about? It still resembles an explosion in a paint factory. Can you imagine the crew member portrayed showing it to his mates and saying, 'That's me, the blur on the left.' I look forward to the return of your usual excellent and dramatic shots of boats in action.

Mr L Crow West Yorks I have today received the new issue of The Lifeboat and must compliment you on a truly excellent edition. It's full of news, good photos and, I cannot put my finger on it, but you seem to have re-vamped it! Well done, I look forward to the next one. Many thanks for all your good work Peter Caldwell via emailI have just received the latest copy of The Lifeboat What were you thinking of, using this photo as a cover? I had to read the text inside to figure out what it was.

I am not finding fault in Doug Currie's photographic techniques in any way and if he has an exhibition of shots like this I admire his achievement but it has no place on the cover of this journal.

The front cover of The Lifeboat should be instantly recognisable as an image illustrating the work of the lifeboat service, a sharp impressive picture, not a blur. If I entered a photo like this in the new KodaWRNLI photo competition, I am sure that it would be laughed at and placed in the bin and not on the judges' table.

There are thousands of photos in your picture library, try using some of them! Tim Stevens via email I have just received and read my copy of The Lifeboat Spring 2000, Love the cover! The contents are, as usual, superb.

Phil Worthington via emailA fishy tale Following a recent letter to RNLI Honorary Librarian Barry Cox regarding a 4ft cast iron codfish collection box at Robin Hood's Bay, we have now established that 'the fish' is considerably older than we first thought - with records of contributions dating back as far as 1887.

The photograph shows the fish and Will Storm who was coxswain of the rowing lifeboat Mary Ann /.ockwoodfrom 1903 to 1920. The young girl is thought to be Gladys Dixon.

The old fishermen used to encourage youngsters to put a penny in the fish's mouth by saying it would flick its tail - when it didn't they were told to try again. No wonder it has proved a steady earner over the years! The fish is situated at the top of the slipway next to the old Coastguard station and lifeboat house and is very much part of the old village. A plaque records that it was presented by Captain Isaac Mills and his wife.

Although being moved during the war years and again in the 1960s, when the old Coastguard station was converted into a marine laboratory, the fish has always been returned to its original position to carry on its good work for the RNLI.

The National Trust is now converting the lab back to its original form and will remove the fish for safe keeping while work is in progress, returning it restored and refurbished when the work is completed.

I would be interested to hear from readers if there are any other unusual or very old collecting boxes around the country.

Raymond Pennock Alpha House Flying Thorpe Whitby North Yorkshire Y022 4TR LetUrtfrom readers are always welcome.

Address them to: ' if Editor, The Ufelmat, KM./, Mo Quay Road. I'uote, Dorset HHI5 III/.

or email us at: lltelifebuaKfi rnli.org.uk ll submissions slwuld he clearly nnnk, il 'fur puMicatwti'Save our boatbuilders! In the News section of the Spring issue I was disturbed to read about a Swedish lifeboat arriving for trials.

I have no doubt that the Swedish boat will be excellent and will fulfil all the requirements of the RNLI but, in Teeside, we are extremely sensitive to the destruction of our shipbuilding industry.

The Royal Navy is already wanting a French company to tender for four new warships covering billions of pounds. I am sure that if the British yards were asked to tender for this type of lifeboat they could amply meet all requirements and provide much needed employment for the skilled ship builders of this country.

You help those who are sinking - think of British industry, it is in dire straits. Help to throw a lifeline and help rescue Britain.

David Bayliss North Yorkshire RNLI Engineering Manager Bob Cripps replies: As a professional Naval Architect I am in total agreement with you regarding the destruction of the UK shipbuilding industry. I have worked for nearly 26 years in the ship and boat building industry and, as such, would not agree lightly to anything that further reduces this country's capability to build ships and boats.

The article to which you refer was very brief and as such, did not fully explain the purpose of the trials and how they fit into the RNLI's boat development programme.

We are currently looking at the development of a 35-knot all-weather fast response lifeboat and, as you can appreciate, operating at these higher speeds presents a number of problems, both in the design of the boat and to the crews themselves. Therefore, since the Swedish Rescue Service already operated a 35-knot lifeboat, it was decided to evaluate this boat to see whether it would meet the RNLt's requirements. At the same time it gives us the opportunity of getting crews to try a 35-knot water-jet boat in UK waters before making any firm decisions as to the way ahead.

While these trials are being undertaken we are also undertaking a design exercise developing a boat to meet the requirements.

When the trials and design exercise have been completed, we will then be deciding on the most appropriate way to proceed.

It has never been our intention to purchase a boat from Sweden. We have already discussed and agreed with our Swedish colleagues that, if we decide on adopting the Swedish lifeboat concept, we would develop the boat ourselves and then get the boat built by a suitable yard in this country.

I hope that the foregoing helps to allay your fears and, rest assured, as someone who makes their living from the ship and boat industry, I wish to preserve this country's involvement in this industry..