 "Fulton" was recommissioned on 2 September 1930 for duty as a survey ship in the Panama Canal Zone, reclassified as a gunboat, PG-49, on 29 September.On 3 March 1931, she returned to Balboa.Aside from a voyage north for overhaul in the winter of 1931–32, she conducted surveys in the Canal Zone area until arriving at San Diego on 13 August 1932 to prepare for duty in the Asiatic Fleet.