The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1953-05-11
IGNORANCE OF

Every truly yours,
r. o. FRASER
LICENSES: Master Of Steam OF
Motor Vessels, (Any tonnage any
ocean,.
Master Of Sail Vessels, (Any ton.
mage, any OCEAN,
Operator Of Motor Boats (under
90 II. or is tons)
First Aid Certificate
Able Seaman's Certificate
Life.boat Certificate"
Fraser's letter TO the u. S. Coast
Guard on the lack of safety equip.
ment and knowledge Of shrimp
vessels and other boats follows:
".Commandant U. 8. Coast Guard
Washington, d. C.
Dear Sir:
II respectfully suggest that the
law relative to Licensed Person
mel on Vessels" be amended to
read that "All Vessels or boats,
propelled by machinery (including
boats propelled by cupboard mo-
tors). while underway, shall be in
charge of q person, licensed by
the U. S. Coast Guard"
IAN oral and written examina-
toin should be required before a
license is issued. written: to
make sure that the Hcensee ID
literate enough TO read the rules
and regulations.)
"In a boat operating within har.
Dor limits, "Rules of the Road
and working knowledge OF the
machinery should be a minimum
must" on the examination for the
license. In a boat operating out
side Of harbor limits or, carrying
more than one person, elementary
First Aid, and, the equipment for
1t should be added.
more than once ! have been
compelled to execute IN On.
necessary msnsvver 10 svold
collision with . boat whose op-
crater did not know his or her
Job. Once had to tow In, from
; miles Of Miami Beach, en-
"svtboard" powered skin, the
operator Of which had absolute
" ~ knowledge Of the motor.
Down here, on The se.eallsd
Tertvsas Shrimpins grounds,
, times without number have had
boats "eress my bew" from The
Pert and, whsn caught fhsm
In port later and checked them
ON II, their reply was "do YOU
went the whole ocean to your.
self"
Twice we have had cases Of
seriously injured men on board
these boats and no one on board
that knew how to administer First
Aid. In one case, the man died!
IAN estinsated 20 per cent %
The so-csllsa masters Of these
vessels Do not know HE eern.
pass and have no idea whore
they ere when they lose sight Of
. lsnd-mark. They keep fhe 70.
di6-air elvitsrsd with frantic ap-
peals for pesifion and 4 Of
more men are dependent upon
Tho Master shst doesn't know.
licensing would cure thar and.
mako fhe csast Guards ehers .
little easier IN these wassrs.
Another smust'' for boats Of lis
gross tons and over, should be i
power whistle" 80 meeting and
passing signals could be given. At
present, all the boats in this area
have only q ''mouth horn" which
is usually slowed in q drawer,
under locker, or some other In
accessible place as are the life
preservers, which are usually in
the fore-peak or the engine room,
out Of the way.
1t any or all Of the above,
incest with your approval and, ]
can assist In any way, will be
dad to cooperate.
Respectfully yours,
r. o. FRASER"
Coast Guard Washington head
quarters wrote Fraser as follows
last February;
eDear Sir:
"Ressrenes 10 made 10 ysvr
letter 81 81 January 1853 with
respect 10 tlse standards 81 SAFE
N ef small metsr-pFspsllsd YES
sells. AZ pFsvisvsiy Indicated. h
y The epinien 81 v. 5. cssss
Guard Headquarters Mat there
is much 10 he desired IN mo
standard - safety o. smsii mstp
sr-pFopsiled washes. u b pavti-
evlsrIy concerned with ths Lew
standard 81 safety 81 Meser.pre.
PEELED vessels which engage In
me carriage ef passengers Ssr
hire end which cater 70 men.
women snd children fer rssrss-
tienst pvrpesss. In His lasssr
esnHsefien. lesisissien wss n.
trsdUesd duTins HE last session
" Congress which failed % en-
aetment. n b snfieipafsd Mat
simllar Ieslslssiea Win again g
lnsredvesd % shs present ssssisa
- csnsesss snd yev may rest
assured Inst shs cssst cvsrd
viii fully s0ppsrt svsh isslsls-
tien.