BIG thumbs up!

From: Franz
Location: Duluth
Email: ZenithTugataol
Remote Name: 152.163.252.34
Date: 09/30/03
Time: 10:56:16 AM

Comments

Tom your report was excellent and the photos were great, especially that Perfect action shot of the KATHERINE. A few comments and some more information: The KNOTTY BEAR arrived at Fraser Shipyards (from who knows where) about 5 years ago, cut apart and trucked to an inland lake for a sightseeing boat. Now it was done again, cut apart, trucked back to Fraser, reassembled, and took off on the big lake bound for Holland, MI. They arrived, but made very bad time on L.S. I am told. ***************** The two old beauties ashore in Hancock are the fish tugs RONALD E and WEST BAY. They were salvaged by the Corps with the derrick boat SCHWARTZ and left on Julio's dock. This is what the Duluth guys tell me (should be the right tugs), but the names are correct nevertheless. **************** That unknown green and white tug ashore... where exactly did you see it? It appears to be at Julio's place as well, but i've missed that one. And the BARGE NO. 15, i have been looking for details on her as well, should you come across anything. ************* The SPIRIT, did you shoot her at Grand Marais? The JANICE E. is there as well and I am hearing the old woodie 1926-blt ARBUTUS is there now as well, pulled up. ************** "Jaws" down at the Lower Entry is the DOUGHBOY JR. of 1947. I see now that the MELVIN J. in Marinette has jaws painted on as well. **************** It is excellent Tom that you are photographing these vessels, fish tugs are a HUGE part of our maritime history and it's a real shame as we are at the end of an era with them and they are going away fast. ************* Jim, fish tugs were built off of tugs. In the 1800's commercial fisherman would use the towing tugs in winter, house them in with temporary enlosures from the weather and go fishing... when you compare photos of those early conversions to today's "Lake Erie Style" fish tug, you can see the definate evolution from towing tugs. Funny as things reversed, and now many of the smaller tugs were actually rebuilt off of old fish tugs, such as the DONALD MAC, CALLIE M, TOLSMA BAY, BRAVADO, DOVER, VENTURE, just to name a few off hand.