HARPSWELL — The Coast Guard is conducting a search tonight for a fishing boat based in Harpswell.

Coast Guard officials said they received an electronic distress signal around 8 p.m. from the crew of the Zig Zag Four, a pleasure and fishing craft based at Baileys Island – a village of Harpswell.

The Coast Guard unsuccessfully tried to contact the crew. A Coast Guard jet based in Cape Cod was expected to be called in to conduct a search of the area around Cashes Ledge.

Coast Guard officials were being cautious as signals from an Electronic Position Indicator Radio Beacon can sometimes be accidentally activated.