Evening star., 1943-06-17
Coast Guard 10 Aid
Gas Ban Enforcement
On Boats in Potomac
Will Halt Power Croft
And Report Violations
To OPA Locul Boards

The Coast Guard announced to-
day that it would assist the once
of Price Administration in enforcing
gasoline rationing regulations by
halting all motorboats on the Poto-
mac to determine whether there are
any violations of the pleasure boat
ing ban.
The order to board all vessels,
from outboard motorboats to cabin
cruisers, and send to OPA names of
all operators apparently using gaso-
line for pleasure, was issued by Capt.
H. G. Hemingway, captain of the
Port of Washington. The area af-
fected includes all navigable waters
of the Potomac and its tributaries,
from Great Falls to the Chesapeake
Bay.
The announcement is believed to
have sounded the death knell of
sailboat racing on the river, which
has attained boom proportions this
year. While local sailors rely solely
on the wind for motive power in their
races of Hams Point, officials of
the Potomac River Sailing Associa-
ton pointed out they are dependent
on a motorboat to serve as the
judges boat for their races.
Ban Is Broad.
The ban forbids pleasure cruising,
sportsmen's fishing soirees and trav-
ell guiding
The announcement also evoked
comment from motorboat owners.
They claim the OPA assured yachts
men who had gasoline on their boats
when the first ban was announced
May 20 they would be allowed to use
their supply in any way they saw At.
When gasoline was exhausted
boatmen would not be able to get
more, under the original plan.
Experienced yachtsmen have
pointed out that fuel stored in their
tanks gums up after several months
of inactivity and is rendered use
less.
Informed Of this, an OPA spokes-
man suggested boat owners "agitate"
their boats, presumably by rocking
the boat at the dock, in order to
keep the gas supply in usable con-
dition.
Many Violations Found.
An officer of the Coast Guard said
there was considerable evidence that
boat operators, many Of whom ran
their boats generally for essential
purposes, were violating regulations
prohibiting the use of boats for
pleasure.
I'VE could have picked up a large
number Of these and simply turned
them in to OPA," the officer said.
but we thought it best to give
warning first since it was apparent
number of operators were not IA
miliar with OPA gasoline regula-
tions.
Officials banned use of motor
boats for pleasure on May 20, the
same time the pleasure driving ban
was invoked on motorists. Regula-
tions define pleasure cruising to in
clude guiding travel parties, con-
ducting or chartering boats for fish,
ing parties and fishing other than
commercial or procuring necessary
food.
Some Exceptions Made.
Some time ago OPA announced
that motor boats could not be used
to commute between summer homes
and places OF business or work.
Operation of boats is permitted
for family or personal necessity
trips where no adequate alterna-
tive means of transportation are
available. Boats may be used for
transporting and procuring essen
tial food and supplies. Travel by
naval or military on leave or fur
Tough Is permitted when the men
are visiting or making social calls.
Since the waters affected in Capt.
Hemingway's order touch the Dis
trict, Maryland and Virginia, the
Coast Guard will report violators
of the boating ban to their home
OPA Offices.
Meanwhile, Shed Poiler, OPA en-
forcement officer, stated that prompt
action will be taken against vio-
lators cited by the Coast Guard. He
said that. as In the case Of motor
lists who use their cars for pleasure,
boat operators may expect to have
their rations revoked and further
rations denied for periods in accord
with the seriousness of the violation