The next day, she arrived at St. Thomas and the squadron commander assumed office as Governor of the Virgin Islands on 9 April. "Dolphin" carried the Governor and his staff to the islands of St. Croix and St. John to hoist the American flag with proper ceremony. On 26 April, she began a search for the steamer "Nordskar", flying Danish colors, but suspected of aiding enemy operations. She found her at St. Lucia on 5 May and since her registry showed irregularities, "Dolphin" kept her in custody until departing for Key West, Florida on 28 June, when she turned her charge over to British authorities. "Dolphin" continued to patrol in the Caribbean Sea until arriving at Washington on 6 September.