MILLER

Gasoline launch, twin engine, length 75 feet, beam 13.6 feet, draft 4 feet. Built by Chance Marine Construction, Annapolis, Maryland in 1925. Acquired from Coast Guard in 1933 and returned to Coast Guard in 1935. Ex Coast Guard #198 BOMBER. Named for James Blaine Miller (1883-1915) of the Coast and Geodetic Survey who had served on the Atlantic coast, Alaska, Caribbean, and Philippines. Although relatively young he had commanded the ENDEAVOR, RESEARCH, and FATHOMER and as commanding officer of the PATTERSON rescued many members of the Coast Guard Cutter TAHOMA that had wrecked on a reef in the Aleutian Islands in 1914. He was taking leave when, while a passenger on the LUSITANIA, he died as a result of its being torpedoed and sunk off the coast of Ireland on May 7, 1915.

MORRIS

Schooner, length 91.6 feet, beam 22.6 feet, draft 4.6 feet. Acquired from Army Quartermaster Department in 1849. In service 1849-1855, sunk in Pensacola Harbor at the end of the 1853 season, and then raised. Service on the Gulf coast. Namesake of vessel unknown. Perhaps named for Robert Morris, Revolutionary War Secretary of Finance and heavily involved with procurement of goods for Continental Army, thus connection to quartermaster department.

MT. MITCHELL

Twin diesel, length 231 feet, beam 42 feet, draft 14.3 feet. Built at Aerojet-General Shipyards, Jacksonville, Florida, in 1967. In service 1968-1995, as multi-purpose vessel that conducted hydrographic surveys on the Atlantic coast and Caribbean and served as an oceanographic vessel throughout much of the North Atlantic Ocean on various projects. Late 1980’s it was fitted with a multi-beam sounding system for Exclusive Economic Zone work and discovered Mitchell Dome among other large economically significant features in the Gulf of Mexico. Proceeded to Persian Gulf in 1992 to study the effects of the Iraq War oil spills into the Gulf. Returned and resumed operations as a hydrographic survey vessel until deactivated. Named for Mt. Mitchell, North Carolina, the highest mountain peak east of the Mississippi River.

NAUTILUS

Schooner, length 76 feet, beam 19 feet, draft 7 feet. Built in 1838 for the Coast Survey at a cost of $10,000. This was the first ship built specifically for hydrographic surveying in the United States and the first ship built specifically for the Coast Survey. This ship was the second vessel carrying the name NAUTILUS in United States Government service. The Coast Survey NAUTILUS conducted surveys for the Coast Survey until 1847 when it went into naval service during the Mexican War. Following the war, it was returned to the Coast Survey in July 1848. In service 1838-1859.