A mere hulk would be the most apt description as applied to the average lightship. It is intended to cling to one spot through thick and thin, and not to move about. In the majority of instances the vessel is without any propelling or sailing accessories. If it should happen to break its leashes, it then becomes the sport of the waves, as helpless as a derelict, until its signals of distress are espied and it is picked up by a passing vessel. Although every precaution is adopted to preserve the lightship from this mishap, when the waves become exceptionally heavy and violent the strongest chains are apt to snap under the sawing and tugging of the vessel. In one or two instances lively times have been experienced by the handful of men on board, especially off the wicked stretches of the American seaboard which is exposed to the attack of hurricane and cyclone. [Illustration: _Photo, Paul, Penzance._ THE “SEVEN-STONES” LIGHTSHIP. This vessel, probably occupying the most exposed position around England, marks a terrible danger spot off the Cornish coast.] In her helplessness, the light-vessel depends upon the friendly aid of any craft. The rescuer may be the alert tender, which, having received intimation that the floating beacon has got adrift, raises steam in all haste, hurries out, scours the seas for the wanderer, recovers and rechains her to the danger spot below. Or it may be that a passing· steamer sights the breakaway, retrieves and restores her to the allotted position, making her temporarily secure, and reporting her condition when passing or entering a port. The lightship may be identified easily. There is nothing inspiring about her lines. Her ugly hull, built for strength and not beauty, is painted red, black, or white, according to the colour practice of the country to which she belongs, while on her sides in huge letters, stretching almost from water-line to taffrail, is the name of her station, “Nore,” “Seven Stones,” “Norderney,” “Ruytingen,” “Fire Island,” or whatever it may be. Nor is this the sole means of identification. From afar the mariner learns her character and business by a huge skeleton sphere, a triangular cage, or some other device, carried at the top of the mast or masts. At night a lantern, entirely surrounding the mast, and large enough to enable a person to stand upright within to trim the lamps, throws its warning glare from an elevation about halfway between the deck and the mast-top with the intensity of 12,000 or more candles. Oil is the illuminant most generally employed for the purpose, although in one or two instances electric light is used.