The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-11-24
Report on the Revenue Marine.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 23.-Captain Shepard,
chief of the revenue marine division, in mis-
annual report to the secretary of the treas
ury, says thirty-six vessels in commission
during the year cruised 301, 0C0 miles and
boarded 49, 1852 vessels, of which 1,042 were
found violating the law. The fines incurred
amounted to S334000. One hundred and
twenty-three distressed vessels were
assisted, their values, with cargoes, aggre-
eating S3,2S0,000. Revenue cutters fur
thermore rendered material service TO the
life-saving service during the year and
rescued from drowning twenty-siX persons.
Captain Shepard says that during the
past year the work OF the service en-
braced operations of more than ordinary
Importance in several directions, many of
which dealt wit b issues of an international
nature, requiring nice Judgment. All such
duty is special in character and distinct
from the routine of the service, and the
prompt and efficient manner in which it
was performed reflects to the credit of both
officers and men.
Captain Shepard details the work of var
ious cutters OF particular interest during
the year, especially those serving in Beh-
ring sea. He recommends that the proc
lamation prohibiting the sale to the natives
of Alaska of breech- loading arms and fixed
ammunition be rescindeG, as the very lives
Of those people depend upon the success
they meet with in hunting, and their pres
ent unreliable weapons are becoming of no
use, az seals and walrus have become not
only very shy, but scarce. Furthermore
the proclamation only enhances the value
of breech-loaders in the hands of unscru-
lous traders.
Captain Shepard says a number of new
vessels are urgently needed for the proper
maintenance of the service. The rapidly
increasing commerce on tie great lakes,
Pacific coast a Puget sound; the large
number OF Chinese unlawfully landing aud
the enormous quantities of opium Snug
gled into the United States from cOntigu-
Gus foreign territory; the additional ser
vices demanded of the revenue cutter fleet
in protecting the government interests in
| Alaska, all demand new and more efficient
| steamers. The vessels at present on duty
when first put into commission filled the
requirements but are now entirely toe
small to meet the enlarged duties of the
service. The policy of making extensive
repairs on old vessels is a mistaken one.
| for Puget Sound aud one for San Francisco
and the California coast. They would be
available for annual cruises in BehriDg sea
| and do away with the necessity of calling
| for support from the cruising vessels of the
navy. 1t would further become practicable
on receiving two new vessels for the Pacific
coast to supply the port of San Diego and
the extreme southern coast of Californie
with one of the present steamers This
would insure more efficient patrol of the
California coast. There is further need a.
San Francisco of new boarding steamer
the present one being too small for the eff
ticient performance of the work assigned
her. There is also urgent neeC
for some form of relief of thu
service. Owing to its peculiar
status, its officers and meE have been re-
fused the benefits of retirement, longevity
and pensions. The present condition O.
the service is little short of stagnation
Owing to the roads being blocked by many
old officers, promotion comes only through
death or occasional resignation. The at
tending stagnation has demoralizing effee
on the active personnel of the service AM
tends to not only make the officers dissatis
fled with their lot, but he service itsel
unattractive. Furthermore, the duty per
formed by officers of the revenue marin
is the most arduous, perhaps, of any ser
vice af1oat under the government