fragments of wrecked ships, early surf- 

 boats, watertight dinghies called surf-cars 

 that were operated like breeches buoys, 

 and a variety of cannons and projectiles 

 for shooting lines aboard wrecked ships. 



For over five years these early stations 

 were manned by volunteers, called to- 

 gether like a volunteer fire department 

 whenever there was a shipwreck. In 1854 

 keepers were appointed for the stations at 

 an annual salary of $200. Not till 1871 

 was the Secretary of the Treasury author- 

 ized to employ surfmen to man the 

 stations. 



In the 70 years between 1871 and 

 1941, cutters and lifeboat stations rescued 

 203,609 lives and nearly $2,000,000,000 

 in property from shipwreck and flood. To 

 do this magnificent job, men of the old 

 services and the new have had to put to 

 sea in the worst possible weather. "All I 

 know is the regulations book says you have 



to go out," declared one old timer. ""It 

 doesn't say anything about coming back." 



Special breed of men 



Usually, though. Coast Guard crews do 

 come back, their missions accomplished. 

 One of the reasons is that years of expe- 

 rience in launching small boats through 

 dangerous surf has developed a special, 

 rugged breed of men. Another reason is 

 that the equipment is specially developed, 

 too. 



Take the lifeboats, for example. There 

 are a number of types, each designed and 

 built by the service for a particular task. 

 There's the 26-foot surfboat that weighs 

 nearly a ton and is propelled by oars. The 

 same boat comes in a power model, and 

 both types arc self-bailing. Then there are 

 two models of motor lifeboats, a 36-footer 

 and a 52-footer. These are self-bailing, 

 self-righting, and virtually unsinkable, 

 and they have enclosed, heated com- 

 partments. 



Newcomers among rescue craft are the 

 versatile amphibious trucks, or DUKWs, 

 as they are called. These vehicles can do 

 55 miles per hour on paved roads; then, 

 without stopping, partially deflate their 

 tires for better traction on sand and do 

 12.4 miles per hour across beaches and 

 into the water where they can make six 

 miles per hour. In reversing this process, 

 they can reinflate their tires, again with- 

 out stopping, when they return to the 

 paved roads. 



A breeches buoy is an old but 

 still workable method of getting 

 shipwrecked sailors to shore. 



