The record-union., 1891-11-24
REVENUE MARINE.
THE SERVICE GROWING AND NEW
VESSELS ARE NEEDED.
Captain Shepard, Chief of the Division.
Makes Some Recommendations
Cruisers for the Pacific Coast.
snecial to the REcoRp-uS1oS.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 23.-Captain Shep-
ard, Chief of the Revenue Marine Divis.
ion, in his annual report to the Secretary
of the Treasury says that the thirty-six
vessels in commission during this year
cruised 301 600 miles. and boarded 26, ,962
vessels of which l ,042 were found violat-
ing the law. The fines incurred amounted
to S334,000. One hundred and twenty
three distressed vessels We're assisted
their value with cargoes aggregating 81
100000. The revenue cutters, furthermore
rendered material service to the Life
Saving Service during the year, and res
cued 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 with issues of an inter
national nature, requiring nicely of judg-
ment. All such duty was special in
character and distinct from the routine of
the service, and the prompt and efficient
manner in which it was performed re-
fleets highly to the credit of both the Off
GERS and crews.
Captain Shepard details the work of the
various cutters of particular interest dur
ing the year, especially those serving in
Behring Sea. He recommends that the
proclamation prohibiting the sale to the
natives of Alaska of breech-loading arms
and fixed ammunition be rescinded, as
the very lives of those people depend on
the success they meet in hunting, and
their present unreliable weapons be-
coming of little use, seals and walrus
having become not only very shy. but
scarce; furthermore. the proclamation
only advances the value of breech-loaders
in the hands of unscrupulous traders.
Captain Shepard says number of new
vessels are urgently needed for the proper
maintenance of the service. The rapidly
increasing commerce in the great lakes,
Pacific Coast and Puget Sound the large
number of Chinese unlawtully landing
and the enormous quantities of opium
smuggled into the United States from
contiguous foreign territory, land the adj
ditiona] services demanded of the revenue
cutter fleet in protecting the Government
interests at Alaska, ali demand new and
more efficient steamers.
The vessels at present on duty when
first put into commission filled the re-
Quirements, but now they are entirely too
small to meet the enlarged duties of the
service. The policy of making extensive
repairs to the old vessels is a mistaken
one.
There is also needed, he says, at San
San Francisco, new boarding steamer,
the present one being too small for ef1l-
cient performance OF the work assigned
to her.
There is also urgent need for some
form of relief of the service. Owing to
It's peculiar status, its officers and men
have been refused the benefits of retire
ment, longevity and pensions. The pres
ent condition of the service is little past
that of stagnation. Owing to the grades
being blocked by so many old officers,
promotion comes only through death or
occasional resignation. This has a de-
morali2ing effect on the active personnel
OF the service, and tends to not only make
officers dissatisfied with their lot, but the
service itself umattractiye. Furthe more.
the duty performed by the officers Of the
revenue marine is the most arduous, per-
haps, Of any service ahoat under the
Government.
Captain Shepard says there is urgent
and immediate need for two able cruising
steamers for the Pacific Coast and two
for the great lakes. The cutters now on
the Pacific Coast are not adapted to the
arduous work recently assigned to them
In Behrlng Sea. Stronger and abler yes
sells are needed to replace them. OF the
two vessels required on the Pacific Coast
one is needed for Puget Sound and one
for San Francisco and the California
coast. They would be available for an
nual cruises in Behring Sea and do away
with the necessity of calling for support
from the cruising vessels of the navy.