USQUE AD MARE
A History of the Canadian Coast Guard and Marine Services
by Thomas E. Appleton

Foreword

The Canada we know today drew many of its peoples across the seas and their early westward thrust was upon the waterways or by the long sea route around the Horn. The new frontier is our third sea coast and the islands beyond the long sought Northwest Passage.

Maritime venturing set our patter; sea routes sustain our trade; but our energies have been absorbed in opening half a continent and this has turned our interests toward the land. Thus a nation born of voyaging and still needing ocean access finds marine affairs on the fringes of its consciousness.

Here is the story of the services supporting nautical endeavour, publicly provided but not publicly well known, perhaps taken for granted by mariners as familiar, by others as remote.

The lighthouse on the promontory; the buoy tender marking hazards for others to avoid' the pilot vessel at our gates' the icebreaker leading trade into new seasons; the range of safety and rescue systems of this complex service provides the basis for the sure movement of traffic upon the waters of Canada nd its approaches.

In the course of the first one hundred years of Confederation, there have been many reorganizations and shifts of role. The scope chosen for this work is that of Marine Services of the Department of Transport as it is today with some reference to related activities to round out the story.

The author is particularly well qualified for this task. A lifelong student of marine history, he began his career as a deck apprentice in the merchant service. As an officer of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve he commanded mine-sweepers and escort vessels during the war and later served on the active list of the Royal Canadian Naval Reserve. In between he qualified as a professional engineer. Since 1960, he has been with the Department of Transport in various technical positions until invited to undertake the research and writings of this book.

Mr. Appleton has had assistance from many institutions and individuals here and abroad. He has had access to all material available in the Department; his opinions, of course, are his alone. 

Gordon W. Stead

Assistant Deputy Minister, Marine,
Department of Transport