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E d i t o r ' s N o t e b o o k - cont'd. 2. tuities), which is the same price as in 1993. Guests will, as usual, be welcomed. Please send your early remittance to the T. M. H . S. Chief Purser, William R. Wilson, 173 Glenrose Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M4T 1K7. When r e serving, it is important that you specify whether you would prefer a fish or chicken dinner, as either will be available but we must order in advance. Tickets will be held at the door for all those who have reserved. Please N o t e : Although we have again reserved the JADRAN's large Dubrovnik Room and thus have ample space no matter how large our group, we do have a deadline for confirming the number that will attend as well as their dinner preference. Reservations, accompanied by payment and entree s el ec tio n, must be received by Tuesday, May 3rd. We regret that there can be no refunds after that date, and that tickets will not be sold at the door. Also, those wishing to attend Capt. Ackert's programme must also attend the dinner, for both will be held in the same room. Please reserve your party. as soon as possible so that we may hold space for you and In the New Member Department, a hearty welcome goes out to Reg Breaker, of Etobicoke, to Bill MacDonald, of Thunder Bay, and to Jerry Walter, of Grand Haven, Michigan. * * * * * MARINE NEWS For several years now, it has been known that the future of the famed Boblo Island amusement park on the Detroit River was in serious question. For 96 summers, the park and its rides provided respite from the city heat and a chance for a day of fun for residents of both the Detroit and Windsor areas, the whole experience enhanced by the ferry ride that was necessary to reach the island park. However, in recent years, the park has gone through a number of changes in ownership, and it has suffered from a lack of renewing financial investment, as well as negative comparison with the immensely popular amusement park located not far away at Cedar Point, Ohio. First step in the finale of the park came when the ferry link to downtown Detroit, long maintained by the famous steamers COLUMBIA and STE. CLAIRE, was discontinued at the close of the 1991 season, and in 1993 came word that the short U . S. ferry route from Gibraltar to the park would be abandoned, and the only access would be via ferry from Amherstburg. On March 8, 1994, the "Windsor Star" reported that "twenty of the island's 30 rides have already been sold, the six Boblo ferries are on the block and the island's owners are ready to entertain offers from anyone interested in buying 110 hectares of waterfront property". The announcement of the closure and sale of Boblo was made by Bill Weisfield, chief operating officer for Northern Capital Corp., which purchased the island at auction in February of 1993 for $3. 7 million. It was reported that Northern Capital has lost $3. 3 million on the island in one year, owes another $1 million to unsecured creditors, and hopes to recoup some $ 8 . 5 million from the sale of the island, the rides and associated equipment, and the ferries. The news of Boblo's demise struck particularly hard blows at the town of Amherstburg and Malden Township, the latter receiving 25 percent of its annual tax assessment from the island. Amherstburg had been hoping for an influx of shopping and tourist dollars that would have come from the town being the mainland terminus of the only remaining ferry service to Boblo in 1994. The Boblo Island park had been developed as an attraction by the Detroit, Belle Isle and Windsor Ferry Company, which purchased the island in 1898, and for years the park was served by the company's steamers. The Browning family of Detroit acquired the park and ferries in 1949, but sold it in 1979, following which there was a succession of unsuccessful ownerships as Boblo sank farther into a quagmire of financial non-viability.