The coastland times with which is combined the pilot and herald of Belhaven and Swan Quarter. [volume] (Manteo, N.C.) 1959-1973, 1959-08-07


4th, the United States Coast Guard,
a member of this Nations Armed
Forces and its principal Federal
Agency for maritime law enforce
ment and marine safety, marked
its 169th year of service to the
maritime public.
On this day Coast Guardsmen
aboard ships and on stations from
Greenland to Korea observed this
passing of another miles o n G
quietly. Or as quietly as Coast
Guardsmen possibly can; for out
of necessity their services to the
Nation must continue.
Boatmen, themselves celebrating
a day off from work or on vacation,
could still expect a sleek white
rescue boat to be available should
trouble happen.
Likewise, Loran Stations in the
Atlantic and Pacific will still emit
that all important radio impulse
for the trans-oceanic navigator to
use in plotting his course.
In the IL key rescue coordination
centers drought the United States
(this includes Alaska and Hawaii)
men will stand watch around the
clock, keep the eye of the Coast
Guard on the waterways and sky
days ready as on any other day, to
send a ship or plane to the aid of
those in distress.
Perhaps a few of us are aware
of the vast and varied services
furnished by the Coast Guard to
the maritime public. And perhaps
even fewer are those that realize
how closely the history of the
Coast Guard is linked with the that
of our Nation.
The Marine, forerunner
of the present Coast Guard was
George Washington signed a bill
born when Congress passed and
which authorized the construction
of stem boats" securing the collee-
ton of revenues" and for guarding
the coast against smuggling.
During the years between the
disbanding and re-establishment of
the Navy, 17S4-1798, it was our
only armed force afloat.
The Coast Guard has served with
distinction in all or major conflicts.
in the undrclared war with France
The record includes leading role
in 1889; the stamping out of piracy
i'll the Gulf of Mexico, participation
in the Civil War, as well as in both
World Wars.
In 1915 the Revenue Cutter Ser
vice and the Lifesaving Service
merged and the name was changed
to United States Coast Guard.
In 1889, the Lighthouse Service
was included in the Coast Guards
organization, and in 1912, the Blu.
reau of Marine Inspection was
temporarily transferred to the
Coast Guard; the transfer was
made permanent in 1916.
The strength of the Coast Guard
today is approximately $500 of
ficers and 26,30O0 enlisted men,
This plus strong Reserve train
ing program enables it to carry out
increased duties and responsible.
ties should a national emergency
threaten.
In peacetime, the Coast Guard
duties are many and varied.
Much time and effort is devoted
to enforcing safety regulations fol
small boats. The rules provide thai
motorboats must carry minimum
amount of safety equipment such
as lifejackets, lights, fire extin-
guishers, bells, whistles, etc.
The Coast Guard not only boards
small boats to inspect them and in
sure compliance with law, but al
so carries out a program of train
ing boat owners in the techniques
of safe plotting and operation.
Since the loss of the Titanic in
1912, the Coast Guard has beer
charged with conducting the Inter.
national Ice Patrol. An area o.
$4,000 square miles in the NORTH
Atlantic is patrolled; through thi.
area passes the worlds heavies'
shipping traffic. During the ic.
season, from April to mid-July
many ice bergs drift from the Ar
tic into commercial shipping lanes
New ideas and innovations fol
combating the ice menace are be.
ing constantly employed. In safe
guarding merchant shipping tn,
Coast Guard keeps abreast of tn,
latest scientific developments an
employs the newest equipmen
after it has been checked and foune
satisfactory for ice-patrol work.
Another big job of the Coas
Guard is maintenance of an Oceal
Weather Station program. At tn,
present time, the United State