During the inquiry it was found that while the previous captain of the "Sea Wing", Captain H.C. Fuller, was licensed for excursion trips of up to 175 passengers this license wasn't transferred to Captain Wethern and, by regulation, he was only allowed to carry 12 passengers at that time. It was also noted that the captain had no authority to take barges in tow at the time of the accident. Under questioning Captain Wethern stated that he did not know that under the ship's excursion permit he was required to have an additional pilot on board or the number of required crew needed for handling and manning lifeboats. Captain Wethern also stated under questioning that the life preservers on board were in a "miserably deficient" condition.