Lighthouses

Lighthouses: Their History and Romance is by W. J. Hardy. The preface says the author has for some years devoted a good deal of time to the study of facts connected with the history of English coast-lighting, and has woven together into this volume such of the scattered references to the subject as he has found.

A passage on modern lightships says a keeper nowadays has never less than three companions, and that the Trinity House boats pay him frequent visits, bringing fresh water, fresh victuals, and a supply of books and papers. The text says a modern lightship is, to a sailor, a really comfortable home, and that each of these vessels costs between three and four thousand pounds to turn out complete and equipped for service. The text calls the Nore one of the ‘gayest’ lightships on which to be stationed, and says the Seven Stones lightship is anchored midway between the Scillies and the Land’s End. A passage says that Sam thought it wise to explain that, in so long opposing the scheme, the Trinity House had only done what it deemed its duty.