The schooner, VERA D, was built in 1896 for Lazaro Lopez and William K.M. DuKate. These men are considered two of the fathers of Biloxi’s seafood industry. VERA D was named for DuKate’s daughter, Vera L. DuKate (1886-1977). The vessels measurements were as follows: length 72.6 fee, breadth 15.1 feet, depth 4.4 feet. It weighed 41 gross tons.