BUOYS AND LIFE-BOATS. 



4-7 



though not entirely invented, was at least perfected by Captain 

 Boyton, and which, as it enabled the wearer to cross from 

 France to England under rather unfavourable circumstances, 

 is clearly a most valuable invention. 



CAPTAIN BOYTON'S LIFE-DBESS. 



Whether the inventor knew it or not I cannot say, but the 

 Boyton life-dress is simply a modification of the Physalis, 

 being capable of dilatation with air at will. 



So much for the individual life-belt, and we will now pass to 

 those which are intended to sustain more than one individual. 

 It has almost invariably been found that when a ship has been 

 wrecked on a rock, or stove in by the sea, that, although there 

 may be plenty of boats, there is great difficulty in getting them 

 into the water rightly. 



Now, if parts of the ship itself could be made of materials 

 which could not be sunk except by enormous pressure, and 

 which might be released by a touch if the vessel were sinking, 

 it is evident that many lives would be saved which have now 

 been lost. 



And if such movable parts of the vessel were supplied with 

 water and provisions in air-tight cases, there is no doubt that 

 the number of " missing " ships would be very greatly dimi- 

 nished. I remember an instance where a yacht was " hung 

 up " on a mud-bank, whence there was no escape, for twenty- 

 four hours, and there was one sandwich on board to be divided 

 among the owner, two men, and a boy. Of course the boy had 

 the sandwich, and the men sustained themselves as well as they 

 could with tea, of which there was, fortunately, a canister on 

 board. As it was, they were some thirty-six hours without food. 



After such an experience he had special lockers made in the 

 yacht and her boat, containing biscuit, potted meats, water, 



