United States Coast Guard, 1919 #271250

The other duties of the Coast Guard enumerated in the summary are performed in the interest of the enforcement of the laws relating to shipping and maritime commerce. The protection of the customs revenue has always been a function of the service, from the date of its establishment to the present day. Our coast line, inclusive of the Great Lakes, is approximately miles in extent. Nearly half of the sea coast is convenient to the smaller craft that may desire to operate from adjacent islands or mainland of foreign jurisdiction; it offers to them comfortable harborage in abundance for smuggling operations. The foregoing represent the principal duties of the Coast Guard, but still fall short of covering the whole scope of its activities. T It is generally recognized that all departments of the Government may and do call upon the Service for any Special work not specifically assigned, or for which resources are net elsewhere obtainable. Scientific expeditions are carried, officials and mails transported to outlying points, observations of all sorts are made and data collected at places not accessible to commercial transport, tests of various marine devices are made, and expert advice is sought and given by the personnel on numerous varied subjects relating to affairs of the maritime world. The term cooperation has always been one of active application in the annals of the service; the spirit of it is ever present and continually operative, alike for the Government departments and for our citizens.