§ Mr. ROBERT HARCOURTasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that the Arbroath lifeboat was recently called out on a report that a ship flying the flag of distress had been seen near Ethie Haven, and that the supposed wreck, when approached after considerable difficulty, was found to be a drifting Navy target; and whether, seeing that, apart from the trouble and expense to the Lifeboat Institution, such a drifting object is a source of danger to fishing and other craft, and in view of the fact that other instances of this inconvenience have been experienced, he could direct greater precautions to be taken?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI understand that the Arbroath lifeboat was called out on some such report, and that the supposed wreck was found to be a mark-buoy belonging to one of His Majesty's ships surveying in the locality, which had apparently drifted in the recent heavy weather. This buoy would consist of two casks and a pole with a calico flag. The attention of the commanding officer of the surveying vessel will be called to the occurrence, but it does not appear that any precautions were neglected, or that the mistake as to the nature of the drifting object is likely to be repeated.