MARINE RADIO TELEPHONE SERVICE 707 



from the shore station have been quite satisfactory. Of course, during 

 periods of abnormally heavy static the normal range is somewhat 

 reduced. The service is available at all times, but practically all 

 business is handled between the hours of 8 A.M. and 6 P.M. so that 

 the relatively poor atmospheric conditions usually existing during 

 summer nights do not adversely affect the radio telephone traffic. 

 However, experience has indicated that calls originated during such 

 periods from vessels within the normal range can be handled satis- 

 factorily. During some periods of favorable atmospheric conditions 

 experimental transmissions over distances greatly in e.xcess of the 

 normal range have been successfully conducted. 



On fishing vessels the radio telephone equipment is accessible for 

 maintenance work only at the conclusion of trips which are usually of 

 about ten days' duration. It is obvious, therefore, that the equipment 

 must be designed for reliable operation over long periods and experience 

 indicates that these requirements have been well satisfied. 



Fishing craft normally make use of the service for reporting the 

 details of the catch, for making arrangements to return to port and for 

 talking with other fishing vessels to locate points where fishing is best. 

 The radio telephone has proved of vital importance on several occasions 

 where engine breakdowns necessitated advice from shore in order to 

 make repairs and having replacement parts available upon the vessel's 

 arrival at port. In several instances of sickness and accidents to 

 members of a crew, medical advice has been obtained or the Coast 

 Guard summoned to remove the injured man for quick transportation 

 to a hospital. In one case of severe damage to a trawler as a result of 

 a collision, the Coast Guard were summoned and the owners were able 

 to keep in constant touch with the situation. 



