▁as ▁a ▁wooden - h ul led ▁coast al ▁cargo ▁ship . ▁The ▁North western ▁Sh ip building ▁Company ▁constructed ▁her ▁at ▁B elling ham , ▁Washington , ▁and ▁delivered ▁her ▁to ▁the ▁United ▁States ▁Army ▁in ▁April ▁ 1 9 4 4 ▁for ▁use ▁during ▁World ▁War ▁II . ▁The ▁U . S . ▁Army ▁placed ▁her ▁in ▁service ▁as ▁the ▁" fre ight ▁and ▁supply " ▁ship ▁U . S . ▁Army ▁L t . ▁Walter ▁J . ▁Will ▁( FS - 2 4 4 ). ▁ ▁Fish ▁and ▁Wild life ▁Service ▁ ▁In ▁November ▁ 1 9 4 8 , ▁the ▁United ▁States ▁Department ▁of ▁the ▁Inter ior ′ s ▁Fish ▁and ▁Wild life ▁Service ▁obtained ▁L t . ▁Walter ▁J . ▁Will ▁from ▁the ▁U . S . ▁Army ▁and ▁renamed ▁her ▁M V ▁Dennis ▁W inn . ▁The ▁Fish ▁and ▁Wild life ▁Service ▁immediately ▁placed ▁her ▁in ▁service ▁in ▁the ▁waters ▁of ▁the ▁Territ ory ▁of ▁Al aska , ▁where ▁she ▁replaced ▁the ▁F WS ▁vessel ▁M V ▁Brown ▁Bear ▁in ▁making ▁regular ▁voy ages ▁to ▁and ▁from ▁Br istol ▁Bay , ▁transport ing ▁supplies ▁and ▁personnel . ▁ ▁On ▁ 2 1 ▁April ▁ 1 9 1 0 , ▁the ▁United ▁States ▁Congress ▁had ▁assigned ▁the ▁responsibility ▁for ▁the ▁management ▁and ▁har vest ▁of ▁northern ▁fur ▁se als , ▁fo xes ▁and ▁other ▁fur - b ear ing ▁animals ▁in ▁the ▁P rib il of ▁Islands ▁in ▁the ▁Ber ing ▁Sea , ▁as ▁well ▁as ▁for ▁the