THE CLOVER BOYS IN BRISTOL BAY (continued)
When we last heard from our friends the boats had just been hoisted, on board
after being stranded several days up the Kvichak River. At 1125, Monday 30 April
we got underway for Nushagak Bay and anchored there at 1650<>
At 0600, Tuesday, No. 3 boat departed with AtoN party to commission Nushagak
Bay Lt. This done we got underway and- commissioned Nushagak Bay Entrance LEB2
and then proceeded to Egegik Bay and placed En+rance LBB 1 on station and anchor
ed for the night. At 0646, Wednesday, 2 May, No. 3 boat departed to commission
Red Bluff Lt. and we got underway for Middle Bluff. Vie arrived there at 0820,sent'
an AtoN party ashore and picked up the boat. Returning to Red Bluff we picked up
that party then returned to Middle Bluff and anchored at 1200. When that party
returned at 1400 we set course for Ugasuk Bay. Wg arrived there at 1815,commiss
ioned Ugashik River Entrance LBE ‘HJR” and anchored for the night.
Thursday started off innocently enough, but was another trying day* No. 3 boat
departed to commission Smoky Point Lt. and we proceeded to Cape Greig nearby. At
0735 No. 4 boat departed to commission the light. At 0300 the party radioed the
boat had broached in the surf.The tide was coming in and the water continued to
fill the boat. Vi/e anchored. At 0928 we sent in No. 1 and 2 boats with a portabl^^
pump. No. 3 boat from Smoky Point returned: at 1030. At 1300 No. 1 & 2 boats ret^^P
urned with the AtoN party and reported all water had been pumped out. Wo now had
to wait for high tide.At 1445 a party went back to the beach and nailed tarpaul
ins over No, 4 boat so the surf would not fill it again. At 1900 No. 3 boat ret
urned to the beach and secured a tow line to No. 4, At 2055 the boat came off the
beach, and was back to the ship ac 2130. We- used the boom to lift out the engine
which was immediately disassembled and parts put to soak in diesel oil. At 2301
we were underway again, Friday A.M. we were off Cape Seniavin. Altho we scanned
the beach carefully there was no sign .of our rubber boat.. We contined on to Sea
Lion Rock arriving at 1845.lt didn't take long to put a small party ashore to
correct the light characteristic and at 1945 we were underway again, Saturday was
very productive. In the morning we serviced Billings Head & North Head lights &
in the afternoon Priest Rock, All aids in Bristol Bay were now ready for the sum
mer navigation seasofi.At 1650 we moored at Standard Oil Dock at Dutch Harbor &
took on 14,900 gallons of diesl fuel. When this wa.s completed we shifted berths
to City Dock, Unalaska, to take on water. Sunday, 6 May was too windy to work
buoys m the narrow cast Channel, so we changed berths to ballyhoo *Jock, Mutch
Harbor, to await arrival of the CGC SWEETBRIAR, based at Juneau„>We had been having
trouble with the radar & had used all spare magnetron tubes.Chavonelle, ETC,, was
flown from Juneau.to Kodiak where he board the Sweetbriar for transportation to
Dutch Harbor, The Sweetbriar was on a special radiobeacon calibration mission.
The Sweetbriar arrived Monday and we received miscellaneous supplies and in
•turn transferred water and spare buoys to it. At 0700 the Sweetbriar got underway
and we-followed shortly thereafter at 0731After making annual inspection of two
buoys in the narrow East Channel we moored at City Dock, Unalaska. After topping
off our water tanks we got underway for Kuskokwim Day,at 1334,That night we
passed about- 45 fishing vessels, which were later identified as Russians, We an
chored in Kuskokwim Bay at 1925 Tuesday,The next morning was foggy, one of the
buoys is 13 miles from shore, so it is necessary to have clear visibility to
see the mountain peaks for bearings. The fog lifted about 1130 and at 1218 we
were underway. By 1802 we had the five buoys on station, and set course for Un
ala ska Island, At 1235, Friday, 11 May we anchored in Mailboat Cove, Chernofski
Harbor, Unalaska. The AtoN.party departed and when it returned at 1440 we were
underway again.At 2140 we sighted Ananiuliak Lt. at 9J- miles burning brightly,
it was due for a check but weather made a boat landing impossible so we went on.
At 1055 Saturda we were off Seguam Is, Lt. The A to N party went ashore & re
charged the light and we got underway for Adak. Since the weather had changed to
the northeast we decidpd to mo^re at Finger Bay ng our arrival. All hands were
glad to be back on Aaax once again wnen we moored at 0701.