MARINE SCIENCE 199 
(f) Buoy tenders under 150 feet (total 58) 
This general classification includes varied types of tenders designed for river, 
Jake, and inland waterways. Few have oceangoing or extended cruising char- 
acteristics. 
The buoy-handling arrangements and gear on tenders would be considered 
desirable in certain kinds of marine investigations but the normal workload in 
aids-to-navigation operations prohibits consideration of oceaographic research 
in any but the most limited concepts. 
(9g) Patrol boats and harbor tugs under 110 feet (total 125) 
This category includes eighteen 110-foot harbor tugs employed for customs 
boarding and coastal rescue. Many of the tugs have icebreaking characteristics 
and extended cruising range which can be considered feasible for limited marine 
research activities. During World War II, several of these vessels did signifi- 
cant hydrographic surveys and mapping in Greenland waters. Their present 
workload precludes consideration in routine oceanographic work. 
The majority of this category constitute the 95- and 83-foot (being replaced 
by 82-foot patrol poats). These are used for short-range search and rescue, 
port security, law enforcement, and patroling marine regattas. The design, 
accommodations, and propulsion plants would eliminate these types ef boats as 
suitable research craft. 
(h) Lightships (total 31) 
Lightships provide a medium for marine research which is uniquely valuable, 
Lightships currently engage in projects as can be established in cooperation with 
the Coast and Geodetic Survey, the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries and various 
private nonprofit marine research organizations. Such projects include water 
sample collections, bathythermograph and drift bottle casts. 
The participation by a lightship in a program must be at no cost to the Coast 
Guard and not interfere with the primary mission of the unit. This imposes a 
burden on the originating agency whereby the full potential of the ship is not 
realized. While this appears, at first, to be an unrealistic approach on the part 
of the Coast Guard, the service’s funds cannot sustain the cost of a full-scale 
participation for which no statutory authority or budget exists. Present co- 
operation, although still considerable, must be conducted in this manner. In 
reality the Coast Guard does absorb some amount of cost and effort in order 
to achieve the present state of cooperation. 
Plans to replace certain of the light vessels with offshore towers and the em- 
bodying oceanographic capability are discussed in another section. 
(i) Miscellaneous craft (total siz) 
These vessels are training and cargo type ships which have specialized assign- 
ments normally not commensurate with oceanographic research. 
2. ICE PATROL OCEANOGRAPHY 
The Coast Guard has conducted oceanographic research in connection with the 
International Ice Patrol since 1914. This is presently done in accordance with 
the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea and by authority of 
46 U.S.C. 738. The Coast Guard is justly proud of its record in this field. It was 
the first agency to routinely send its officers for graduate training in oceanogra- 
phy. The Ice Patrol first used the salinometer in 1926 and has done so coutin- 
uously. In cooperation with the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, such 
new instruments as the GEK current meter, airborne radiation thermometer, 
extra deep and electronic bathythermographs were first tested and earried by 
Ice Patrol aircraft and ships. 
The purpose of the Ice Patrol oceanographic program is to afford an under- 
standing of the ocean currents of the Grand Banks and Labrador Sea whereby 
the drift of icebergs can be foretold and accomplish a more effective use of ships 
and aircraft as well as assuring the utmost safety for ships traversing the area. 
In the pursuit of this program the contribution to marine science has been 
considerable. 
The Coast Guard Oceanographic Unit is responsible for the conduct of the 
program. This unit consists of one military and two civilian oceanographers. 
Four enlisted personnel serve as especially trained oceanographic technicians. 
Laboratory work is done at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and sea- 
sonal field work is performed on the 180-foot tender class cutter Evergreen. 
