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.  The vessels measurements were as follows:  length 72.6 fee, breadth 15.1 feet, depth 4.4 feet.  It weighed 41 gross tons.