The USS Nettie was a 41-foot motorboat built in 1912 specifically for the Maryland State Fishery Force, operated by the Conservation Commission of Maryland. Designed as a small, agile vessel, Nettie served as a patrol boat within the Chesapeake Bay region, including the Patuxent River area, under the command of Deputy Commander Andrew I. Johnson. The vessel's size and power made it suitable for local patrol duties, fisheries enforcement, and supporting conservation efforts. In August 1917, during World War I, the U.S. Navy approached the Maryland Conservation Commission to utilize its fleet of small boats for wartime patrols. The Maryland boats, including Nettie, were leased to the Navy under a contract that made them part of the Naval Reserve, specifically serving as Squadron Number 8 of the 5th Naval District. The arrangement allowed the vessels to perform both federal and state law enforcement duties in their usual patrol areas, with expenses, wages, supplies, and repairs funded by the federal government. The command of Nettie was under a Conservation Commission member, George O. Haddaway, who held a Navy Lieutenant rank. Throughout her service, Nettie was assigned the Section Patrol number SP-1436. She operated primarily from Solomons, Maryland, patrolling Chesapeake Bay and the Patuxent River. Notably, in February 1918, she became temporarily frozen in ice during severe cold weather, illustrating the challenging conditions faced during her patrols. She remained in operation at least through 1922, as evidenced by her mention in the 1922 Annual Report of the Maryland Conservation Commission. The USS Nettie’s service highlights the vital role small patrol vessels played in maritime enforcement, conservation, and wartime patrols during the early 20th century, contributing to both national security and local resource management efforts.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.