With the advent of small vertical steam engines a small fast propeller-driven boat appeared on protected waters such as lakes and inlets. They were usually passenger freight boats that could enter smaller harbours. Their bigger cousins needed large docks for loading passengers and cargo. The small communities along the shores of lakes and inlets depended on them for supplies and transportation. They usually were fairly narrow for their length and if not loaded properly became unstable. In Puget Sound these small, fast wooden vessels were known as the “mosquito fleet."
The Virginia V is a classic example of a small, steam passenger & freight ship. She was originally built in 1922 in Puget Sound. She operated from 1922 to 1972 carrying around 3.1 million passengers. The Virginia V Foundation has completely restored this wonderful old ship. She is licensed to carry passengers as she was in her hey day. For information on trips go to www.virginiav.org
The sound of the steam whistle alerted the town to the arrival of the steamer. In former years the people in small communities along the West Coast waited for the whistle of the local steamers to bring them supplies.

Gig Harbor

After a major restoration, including a new boiler, she made a trip to one of her old ports of call. She arrived in Gig Harbor on May 29, 2002. At one time when these ships arrived it was a major event. As was the case when the steamer arrived in ports all over the continent everyone came down to meet it. These vessels brought far more than supplies and passengers. They brought news of the outside world.
What made this arrival special was the number of people, including school children that were waiting for her. They could hardly wait to be allowed on board.
Unlike her larger cousins that used cargo gear, cargo was wheeled aboard through doors on the sides of the hull. The old crews had to do a lot of heavy work when handling cargo. In addition to normal cargo these vessels might have to transport livestock as well. Depending on the vessel design passengers would normally stay one deck up.
For more about working cargo on coastal vessels and the construction of these vessels see "Seamen, Ships & Cargo."

Many residents of Gig Harbor boarded the ship after it docked. The interest in the arrival of the steam ship was as high as it had been a 100 years ago.