Lightships are vessels carrying powerful lights anchored in places where it is necessary to have lights to aid in the navigation of seagoing craft but where it would be impossible or impracticable to build lighthouses.
The Depots of the Lighthouse Service are shore establishments where buoys, lights and lightships may be overhauled and repaired and where supplies may be kept in stock.
UNIFORMS OF OFFICERS AND ENLISTED MEN
OF LIGHTHOUSE TENDERS
The officers are provided with a blue uniform for cold and temperate weather and a white uniform for hot weather.
The blue uniform consists of a single-breasted sack coat of navy blue cloth extending to about ten inches below the waist, with a standing collar, buttoning down the front by buttons concealed under a fly, the collar, front and bottom edges being trimmed with black mohair braid one and one-quarter inches wide; plain trousers of dark blue cloth; and a cap of navy blue cloth with a sloping visor of patent leather, a band of black mohair braid one and one-half inches wide, a chin strap of one-half inch gold braid secured above the visor by means of a small gilt button at each end of the visor. The insignia of the Lighthouse Service, a lighthouse, are embroidered in silver on the front of the cap, surrounded by a wreath embroidered in gold.
The rank of the officer is indicated by stripes of black mohair braid around the sleeves, the number and width of the stripes for the different grades being as follows:
Captain.—Four stripes, the two outer ones one-half inch and the two inner ones one-quarter inch wide.
Chief Engineer.—Three stripes, the two outer ones one-half inch and the inner one one-quarter inch wide.
Master of Tender.—Four stripes one-quarter of an inch wide.
First Officer and Engineer of Tender.—Three stripes one-quarter of an inch wide.