This organization worked in often extreme conditions to rescue passengers and crews, and recover cargo from the hundreds of vessels that wrecked on the shifting shoals of Sable Island, roughly 290 kilometres southeast of Halifax. Founded long before the Canadian Coast Guard (1962), it marked the beginnings of government responsibility for marine safety. Salvage and lifesaving operations changed over time through the use of specialized rescue boats, lighthouses, and wireless telegraphy between the North Atlantic and the mainland. Known worldwide in its time, it is remembered today for the dedication, resilience, and heroism of its members.