Paul Stubing said this is a picture of boats in ice, including the Coast Guard vessel.
According to James Warren's "Maine Sardine Industry History 1875-2000", the sardine carrier "Lou Ann" was built at Thomaston, Maine, in 1891. Her length was 69.5 ft., depth 6.3 ft., gross tonnage of 50 and net tonnage 25. She was affiliated with Bath Canning Co. The "Bessie L." was built in Lubec, Main,e in 1905. She had a length of 50.2 ft., depth of 5.3 ft., gross tonnage of 14 and net tonnage of 8. She was affiliated with Holmes Packing Corp. of Eastport, Maine Sardine Co. of Addison, and Milbridge Canning Corp. of Milbridge.
This is a winter scene with at least 7 larger fishing boats in ice. There appears to be a mercury sail boat in ice on the right of the picture. The Lou Ann and Bessie L. are on the left side of the photograph.
Ballard, W.H., “Boats In Ice,” Mount Desert Island Historical Society, accessed April 19, 2025, https://mdihs.digitalarchive.us/items/show/12915.Item 13281
