Up until August 1931, "Bushnell" cruised with various Submarine Divisions on the Atlantic coast, in the Caribbean, on the west coast, and in the Hawaiian Islands. "Bushnell" arrived at San Diego 3 September 1931 and reported for duty with the Submarine Force, Pacific Fleet, with whom she operated until 1937. She towed the sailing frigate from San Diego to the Panama Canal Zone during March and April 1934 and in February 1935 assisted in the search for survivors of the dirigible which crashed off San Diego.