Aside from a lightship’s primary responsibility of providing navigational aid, US lightships were also tasked with collecting weather and water quality data. From 1955 to 1970 Coast Guard light vessels on the east coast were part of a program to analyze and report on water clarity, temperature, and salinity at their stations. One of the artifacts remaining onboard our Overfalls when she arrived in Lewes in 1973 is a brass “bucket thermometer.” A small attached plate identifies it as belonging to the Oceanographic Institution at Woods Hole, Mass and dates it to November, 1955. Bucket thermometers were used to measure water surface temperature and to collect water samples. The bucket would be lowered down from the ship, capture seawater then hauled aboard. The temperature would be recorded by the crewman on duty. The water surrounding the base of the thermometer could also be sent to Woods Hole for analysis .