Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-11-24
THE REVENUE MARINE
And the Work Done by That Branch
of the Service the Past Year.
MANY VIOLATIONS OF THE LAW.
Over 100000 in Fines We're Incurred by the
Vessels Boarded.
EXTENSION OF THE DIVISION ASKED.

| WASHINGTON, Nov. 23-Captain Shep-
ard, Chief of the Revenue Marine Division,
in his annual report to the Secretary of the
Treasury says that sc vessels in commission
during the year cruised 301, 900 miles and
boarded 26, 962 vessels, of which l, ,042 were
| found violating the law. The fines
incurred by these violations amounted to
1884, 900.
One hundred and twenty-three distressed
| vessels were assisted, their values, their
cargoes, aggregating, S2,SOO,OO0. The
| revenue cutters, furthermore, rendered
material service to the live-saving service
| during the year, and rescued from drowning
&c persons.
Captain Shepard says during the past year
that the work of the service embraced opera
tions of more than ordinary Importance in
several directions, many of which have dealt
with issues of an international nature re-
quiring nicely of judgment. All such
duty has been of a special character
and distinct from the routine of the
service, and the prompt and efficient man
ner in which it was performed reflects highly
on the the credit of both officers and crews.
Captain Shepard details the work of vari-
Gus cutters of particular interest during the
year, especially those serving in the Ber-
ing Sea-
A Proclamation to Rescind
He recommends that the proclamation pro-
hibiting the sale to natives of Alaska OF
breech-loading arms and fixed ammunition
be rescinded. The very lives of those peo-
pie depend upon the success they meet in
hunting, and their present untenable arms
are becoming of little use, as seals are very
shy and scarce. Furthermore, the proclama-
tion only enhances the value of breech-
leaders in the hands of inscriptions
traders.
Captain Shepard SAYS a number of new
vessels are urgently needed for the proper
mainstnance of the service The rapidly
increasing commerce on the great lakes,
Pacific coast, and Puget Sound, the large
number of Chinese unlawfully landed, and
the enormous quantities of opium believed
to be smuggled into the United States from
contiguous foreign territory; the additional
services demanded of the revenue cutter
fleet in protecting Government interests in
Alaska-all demand new and more efficient
steamers.
Old Vessels Not Worth Repairing.
lht NesStls all prcStut Ou uutf, Wucu uIse
put into commission, filled the require
ments. but are now entirely too small to
meet the enlarged duties of the service.
The policy Of making extensive repairs to
the old vessels is mistaken one
The is also urgent need for some form of
relief for the personnel of the service.
Owing to its peculiar status, its officers and
men have been refused the bene-
fits of retirement at longevity and
pensions. The present condition of
the service is little short of
stagnation. Owing to the grades being
blocked by so many old officer, promotion
only comes upon death or occasional resig-
nation. The attending stagnation has de-
moralizing effect on the active personnel of
the service, and tends to not only make the
officers dissatisfied with their lot, but the
service itself unattractive. Furthermore,
the duty performed by officers of the reve-
nue. marine is the most arduous, perhaps, of
any service afoat under the Government.