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H. C. R. No. 58 *HR26/R2693* ~ OFFICIAL ~ N1/2
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To: Rules
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026
By: Representatives Felsher, Bennett, Eure,
Grady, Haney, McKnight, Crawford
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 58
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING SHIP 1
ISLAND EXCURSIONS ON THE OCCASION OF ITS 100TH ANNIVERSARY. 2
WHEREAS, Ship Island Excursions, a local family-owned company 3
that began as a summer side business to the founder's fishing 4
operations in March 1926, reaches an extraordinary milestone this 5
month when the Gulf Coast institution proudly celebrates its 6
founding and 100 years of continuous operations; and 7
WHEREAS, in the early 1900's, Peter Martin Skrmetta, a young 8
Croatian immigrant seeking improved economic conditions and a 9
better life in America, arrived in Biloxi and went to work with 10
his uncle crewing the sailing schooners that harvested millions of 11
pounds of oysters and shrimp for Biloxi's booming seafood 12
industry; and 13
WHEREAS, by the early 1920's, Skrmetta, fondly known as 14
"Captain Pete," acquired his own 56-foot diesel-powered schooner 15
named the Pan American, and when the shrimping industry would 16
virtually shut down in the hot summer months, the young 17
entrepreneur used his vessel to haul watermelons from Alabama to 18
H. C. R. No. 58 *HR26/R2693* ~ OFFICIAL ~
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the French Market and clam shells from Lake Pontchartrain back to 19
the Coast before beginning what was to become the lasting business 20
of the family - pleasure cruises into the Mississippi Sound; and 21
WHEREAS, realizing the economic potential of a tourist 22
attraction offering locals and visitors alike excursions off the 23
Coast, Captain Pete embarked on various ventures ferrying 24
passengers to and from the barrier islands over the years, 25
including to the casino and dance hall of the failed 1920's Isle 26
of Caprice resort island, and in the 30's, to his own attractive 27
resort he built on the east end of Ship Island and a fishing 28
resort operated by the American Legion Post 110 at Fort 29
Massachusetts; and 30
WHEREAS, as the number of patrons steadily increased over the 31
years, with two boats transporting thousands of visitors from 32
Biloxi in the summer months and offering evening cruises with 33
music, dancing, cocktails and gambling, Captain Pete's fleet 34
eventually grew to three increasingly larger excursion boats - the 35
1937 Pan American Clipper, the 1950 Gulf Clipper, and the 1963 Pan 36
American II; and 37
WHEREAS, Peter Martin Skrmetta, Sr., died in 1963, leaving 38
the company to his two sons, Peter Matthew and James Noel, who 39
operated two ferry services, one from Gulfport and one from 40
Biloxi, until 1986, when Peter bought his brother's Biloxi 41
business and consolidated all Ship Island Excursions' operations 42
to the Gulfport location; and 43
H. C. R. No. 58 *HR26/R2693* ~ OFFICIAL ~
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WHEREAS, Peter Matthew successfully grew the business until 44
his passing in the summer of 2024, and since that time, three of 45
the original Captain Pete's grandsons have run the family 46
operation, which has now provided passage to well over 1.2 million 47
Ship Island visitors over the last century; and 48
WHEREAS, currently the Ship Island ferry operates exclusively 49
out of the Yacht Harbor at Jones Park, making the City of Gulfport 50
the gateway to Gulf Islands National Seashore, and each spring, 51
the third-generation company welcomes thousands of excited 52
visitors eager to feel the ocean mist and taste the salt air, many 53
who have made the 11-mile journey across the Mississippi Sound to 54
Ship Island their annual unofficial kickoff to the long, fun-55
filled days of summer; and 56
WHEREAS, in addition to the March through October daily trips 57
to the island, Ship Island Excursions has helped create lasting 58
memories for many of its patrons who have enjoyed one of the 59
company's year-round dolphin-watching adventures, weekend sunset 60
cocktail cruises, or chartered shoreline day or evening cruises 61
for corporate parties, class reunions and other special 62
celebrations; and 63
WHEREAS, while Ship Island Excursions is widely recognized as 64
the transportation from the mainland to the barrier islands, Gulf 65
Coast residents also see the Skrmetta family and business as a 66
strong supporter of the local community, with the company annually 67
providing transportation to beach cleanup crews, discounted boat 68
H. C. R. No. 58 *HR26/R2693* ~ OFFICIAL ~
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ST: Ship Island Excursions; commend on 100th
anniversary.
tickets to all school and youth groups, and hundreds of donated 69
tickets to fundraisers for local schools, churches and other 70
nonprofit organizations, including law enforcement youth programs, 71
along with working with the National Park Service to preserve and 72
protect the natural and historic resources within the National 73
Seashore; and 74
WHEREAS, on the momentous occasion of the 100th year of 75
unparalleled continuous service by Ship Island Excursions, it is 76
most appropriate to give special recognition to this outstanding 77
Mississippi institution which, as a source of adventure, 78
relaxation and lifelong happy memories, is deemed to be a treasure 79
by the Gulf Coast community and countless fellow Mississippians 80
and visitors to the Magnolia State: 81
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF 82
REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING 83
THEREIN, That we do hereby commend and congratulate Ship Island 84
Excursions on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of its 85
founding and extend sincerest wishes to the Skrmetta family for 86
the company's continued growth and prosperity for many years to 87
come. 88
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be 89
furnished to Ship Island Excursions and to the members of the 90
Capitol Press Corps. 91