When the term 'TENDER' is mentioned, most often people just identify the term with that of a black huIled vessel belonging to the United States Coast Guard called a Buoy Tender. Those who are history buffs, particularly of the old Lighthouse Service, will relate the term 'TENDER' to that of a Lighthouse Tender. But how did that term 'Tender' originate?     Any commissioned vessel of the Lighthouse Service (other than a Light Ship) is referred to a as a "Lighthouse Tender." This was because these ships had the responsibility to maintain, support, or tend to lighthouses, providing supplies, fuel, mail and transportation. These Tenders also towed the early non-propelled lightships to their stations, and after maintenance at the depot or shipyard and when the lightship drifted off station. Later, when buoys became a more standard form of aids to navigation, the tenders were tasked with 'tending' them also. So the term Lighthouse Tender became synonymous with any vessel of the Lighthouse Service tasked with any of these responsibilities.     The late 1800's had established uniformity and standardization of the Tenders established, with black hulls and white superstructures. With the exception of local variations, Tenders have almost always had a black hull. It was easier to maintain, particularly when the hull regularly got bumped and banged while tending aids, towing lightships, or handling cargo.     When the Lighthouse Service merged into the Coast Guard in 1939, the former Lighthouse Tenders became Coast Guard Cutters, but continued to be classed as Lighthouse Tenders. The title 'Buoy Tender' as an official hull classification wasn't enacted until 1943.     The now famous title "Tender" still applies to all classes of vessels in the Coast Guard supporting and maintaining Aids to Navigation, and are proudly known and identified by the black hulls of the 'Tender fleet.     Lighthouse tenders were built from 1857 beginning with the Shubrick, the first tender specially built to serve in that function until today's modern Coast Guard tenders. Previous to the Shubrick the Lighthouse Service utilized ex-Navy ships converted to tending service configurations. Design of the tenders over the years has evolved with the regional needs, the size and nature of buoys, as well as additional functions such as ice-breaking and barge movement. Within the scope of this home page we will tell the story of the tenders - the work horses of America's aids to navigation system. This information and photography excerpted from the forthcoming book, U.S. LIGHTHOUSE TENDERS compiled by Douglas Peterson, U.S.C.G. (retired) and published by Eastwind Publishing.