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Fonds consists of record files of the Department of Marine and Fisheries office of the wreck commissioner for B.C., including inquest documents, correspondence, and survey reports regarding the SS Alaskan enquiry, dating from 1922 to 1923.

Also includes assorted correspondence from the Department of Marine and Fisheries Lighthouse Service, Department of National Defence, Yarrows Ltd, Wright Bros. Contractors & Engineers, McTaggart & Ellis, B.C. Coast Freight Co., ltd, Pacific Salvage Company Limited, Dominion Meteorological Service, British Columbia Division, and the Department of Soldiers' Civil Re-Establishment.

Also includes assorted correspondence related to the inquiry by the office of the wreck commissioner for B.C. into the collision of a boom of logs belonging to the Canadian Puget Sound Lumber and Timber company with a submarine drilling plant working in Victoria Harbour in 1921 that resulted in damage and a casualty.

Fonds also includes photocopies of correspondence from the Department of Marine and Fisheries related to erecting beacons and lights on the coast dating to 1887 and a two-page clipping from "The Daily News-Advertiser", 14 July 1912 consisting of a full page article on Hon. J.D. Haze, minister of Marine and Fisheries.

Fonds also include annual reports from the Department of Marine and Fisheries, dating from 30 June 1869 to 30 December 1879.

Fonds consist of documents relating to the marine service of Walter Hichens-Smith.

1. Photocopy of typed biographical information of Walter Hichens-Smith starting in 1908 when he signed on as a machinist’s apprentice with the B.C. Marine Railway. This appears to have been compiled for Hichens-Smith’s retirement from Island Tug and Barge, possibly in 1957.
2. Continuous certificate of discharge for seaman booklet for Walter Hichens-Smith (born 1893) listing the ships on which he served and ports of discharge during the period of 1913 to 1957.
3. Certificate of competency as first class engineer of a steam-driven ship in a small booklet, dated 3 April 1939.
4. Certificate of indenture of apprenticeship between Walter Hichens-Smith and B.C. Marine Railway for five years beginning 20 January 1908. Includes typed statement on the reverse certifying the completion of his service.
5. Department of Marine and Fisheries certificate of discharge from the CGS Estevan, dated 25 July 1915.
6. Department of Marine Fisheries certificate of discharge from the CGS Estevan, dated 31 December 1915.
7. Handwritten letter of reference signed by John A. Sutherland, engineer of the CGS Estevan, dated 31 December 1915.
8. Typed letter of reference signed by Ramsay’s Machine Works, dated 4 January 1916.
9. Naval Service certificate of discharge from the CGS Lillooet, dated 4 November 1916.
10. Certificate of Competency as third class engineer issued by the minister of public works for the province of British Columbia, dated 6 October 1922.
11. Handwritten letter of reference signed by A. Borrowman, chief engineer, CGS Lilliooet, dated 4 April 1923.
12. Typed letter of reference from Yarrows Limited, dated 14 April 1930.
13. Typed letter of reference from MacFarlane Towning Company Limited for work on the Tug Daring, dated 11 February 1931.
14. Typed letter of reference from MacFarlane Towing Company Limited for work on the Tug Restless, dated 11 February 1931.
15. Typed letter of reference signed by A. Borrowman, Cameron-Genoa Ship Builders Limited, dated 12 November 1916.
16. Certificate of discharge from the M/S Island King, dated 11 May 1934.
17. Certificate of discharge from the M/S Shean, dated 11 May 1934.
18. Certificate of discharge from the M/S Island King. Dated 11 May 1934.
19. Certificate of discharge from the M/S Island King, dated 11 May 1934.
20. Handwritten letter of reference signed by the chief engineer of M/S Shean, dated 26 July 1934.
21. Handwritten letter of reference signed by the master of M/S Tees, dated 13 September 1934.
22. Handwritten letter of reference signed by R. Barclay, Chief Engineer of M/S Island King, dated 3 October 1934.
23. Certificate of discharge from the SS Anyox, dated 7 January 1935.
24. Typed letter of reference signed by the chief engineer and the master of Pacific Salvage Company, Limited, dated 7 January 1954.
25. Certificate of discharge from G.E. Foster, dated 19 September 1935.
26. Typed letter of reference signed by the master of Westward Towing Company Limited, dated 11 October 1938.
27. Typed letter of reference for work on the SS Salvage Queen, signed by the master and supt. Engineer of Island Tug & Barge Company Limited, dated 15 February 1939.
28. Typed letter of reference for work on the SS Snohomish, signed by the master and supt. Engineer of Island Tug & Barge Company Limited, dated 15 February 1939.
29. Typed letter of reference for work on the SS Salvage King, signed by the master and supt. Engineer of Pacific Salvage Company Limited, dated 18 February 1939.
30. Certificate of nationality including photo and finger prints issued at Victoria, BC, dated 12 August 1940. This was a wartime document issued to merchant seamen that entitled the bearer to disembark in US ports.
31. Certificate of service in the HMCS Stadacona, the name of base in Halifax that administered units such the Naval Control of Shipping organization, dated 30 March 1943.

Also includes an Island Tug & Barge brochure titled "Salvage Ships at Work" c. 1954, consisting of photos of company vessels and salvaged vessels.