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Governor R. M. McLane was long the "flagship" of the Maryland state fleet that was first State Oyster Police Force (“Oyster Navy”), when the steamer engaged oyster pirates in gun battles and was even ambushed to ram and sink two attackers, through the State Fisheries Force and beyond. The steamer was site of meeting of Maryland and Virginia officials to agree on common regulations. Later the steamer was engaged in a major survey of the Chesapeake's oyster reefs and potential for cultivated beds. Only then, in a mutual agreement between the state and Navy did all the vessels and men of the Fisheries Force become Naval Reserve and the steamer USS for a period of 1917—1918. Then, after being burned to the waterline in a notorious fire and being rebuilt, the steamer engaged in another major survey, planting cultivation reefs and continued state police work at least into 1937.
The longest and most notable events were as Governor R. M. McLane with USS Governor R. M. McLane (SP-1328) being a wartime footnote in a career spanning 1884 to 1945.
Unfortunately operational on line references "dry up" with the digital Conservation Commission reports ending as the agency was renamed and reformed in 1922. The older Merchant Vessel registers do not list the state owned vessels, though the other Maryland steamer, Governor P. F. Thomas that was sold around 1918, shows up as a former name for Mary W. Potter (O/N 215571) in 1920. Governor R. M. McLane appears in the later MVR as late as 1945 with State of Maryland as owner. 72.196.202.60 (talk) 06:15, 14 December 2018 (UTC)[reply]
This one was at least definitely commissioned. The Maryland Fisheries Force boats (in the new list below references) on the other hand are very much a mixed bag. Sometimes DANFS has "commissioned" that perhaps means sent on the mission rather than formal commissioning (and we know Navy then "commissioned" floating things that would never be so in later years), others explicitly have the "placed in service" that is the term for non commissioned craft then and today. I've revised some of those and will probably get to others. At some point they should probably go into a list much like done with List of Empire ships (A). That would be a good long term solution for the hundreds of DANFS stubs here. 72.196.202.60 (talk) 17:36, 14 December 2018 (UTC)[reply]
Yes, over sixty years total with only a fraction in WW I. I was a bit surprised in revising just what a role this little steamer played in Maryland's Chesapeake fishing industry. The survey was apparently one of the most detailed ever undertaken at the time and this vessel played a key role. The only move/name issue I see is that there was a governor Robert Milligan McLane and there needs to be a vessel tag of some sort in the title to distinguish this article. Since "steamer" is the usual term in references some form of that would be indicated. I am still hoping to track down some indication of just how the hulk came to be there by the museum in Baltimore. Since the vessel was registered in 1945 I suspect the post war glut of suitable replacements made the old steamer redundant and, I believe, there was a little shipyard at the location. A likely "breakers" spot that somehow never finished the job? One reason to rename and emphasize the Maryland State role is that even local references apparently still echo the Wiki "USS" for the hulk while the Oyster War (illustration vessel fits profile for one of the "Governor" steamers) and rest of the vessel's history is much more important. 72.196.202.60 (talk) 17:36, 14 December 2018 (UTC)[reply]
Support move. Article name should reflect the majority of its content. There'll still be a re-direct from the "USS" name since she was commissioned. On a side note, this page could definitely use some cleaning up. And I saw an image on Google of what is supposed to be this boat half-sunk at her mooring. It would be good if someone could upload and add that, if possible. (just my .02¢) - wolf18:00, 14 December 2018 (UTC)[reply]
Yes, move to something like Governor R. M. McLane (dab) to avoid confusion the man Robert Milligan McLane or existing redirect Robert M. McLane - or indeed his nephew Robert McLane. Looking at the article sources, "steamer", "state steamer", "patrol boat" "patrol steamer" seem most justified for the dab. I don't favour prefix "SS" but won't die in the ditch over that. Also, existing redirect Governor R. M. McLane to this article needs consideration as I would think that those that land there are just as likely to be looking for the person - at least both articles should have "for x see y" hatnotes. Davidships (talk) 18:43, 14 December 2018 (UTC)[reply]
Support move - there is an unfortunate tendency to title anything that flew the USN jack for 30 minutes as "USS xxx", regardless of whether that vessel was best known for its USN service or not. Parsecboy (talk) 21:21, 14 December 2018 (UTC)[reply]
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