Buoy Tenders

Bremen is the second largest seaport in Germany and over the years became well known to Americans, as the North Germany Lloyd Steamship Company operated a transatlantic line between Bremen and New York City. The shipping line was established in 1857 and had a good reputation among Americans traveling to Europe. The City of Bremen, founded in 765 A.D., is situated on the Weser River about 30 miles upstream from the North Sea. Bremen was a member of the powerful Hanseatic League, which controlled northern Europe from the 13th to 15th centuries.

The foregoing excerpts are from the 1851-52 Report of the Lighthouse Board which was convened under instruction from the Secretary of the Treasury to inquire into the condition of the Lighthouse Establishment. In this part of the report, the Board was critical of the quality and the means of delivering supplies to light stations and of the lack of inspections of the stations. In other portions of the report, the board deplored the conditions of the lighthouses in this country, noting in two cases keepers were found missing, leaving small boys in charge.