Messrs. Muir, Livingston & Co. at their shipyard in this city (Port Huron) laid the keels for two of the largest sailing vessels to be built for the lake trade, and will employ during the coming winter in their construction about 200 men. The first of these vessels is to be built for Capt. Parker of Chicago and will be the following dimensions; length of keel 211 feet; length overall, 216 feet; breadth of beam 33 ½ feet; depth of hold 14 feet. This craft will have the rig of a three-masted schooner and is to be completed April 15th 1871, and will cost her owner according to the contract price, $55,000. The other vessel is building for the Western Transportation Company and will be schooner rigged and will run between Escanaba and Cleveland. Dimensions as follows; length on keel, 210 feet; overall, 215 feet; beam, 35 feet; depth of hold, 14 feet. The contract provides that the vessel shall be completed by April 15th next at a cost of $50.000.
      Port Huron Daily Times
      Friday, November 25, 1870
     
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      The JAMES C. COUCH fitting out at this yard has all her topmasts up and the process of rigging has been commenced. She will leave port either the last of this week or the first of next. Her color will be black which will set off her hull to a good advantage.
      The Detroit Post says the following; at the launch of Capt. Parker's schooner COUCH at Port Huron last Saturday, the bottle broken in honor of the event, instead of being filled as the time honored usage of the ardent, contained a harmless mixture of molasses and water. It is hoped that the worthy owner will rise to explain whether this is a mere joke, or something indicative of the condition of the market for freight, which is certainly weak enough, and wholly devoid of any spirit.
      Port Huron Times
      Wednesday, May 4, 1871
     
     
The Detroit papers say that the experiment of navigating the mammoth new schooner JAMES C. COUCH with lee boards is a failure. The expense of putting the centerboard box into the COUCH will be between $3,000 and $4,000.
      Port Huron Times
      June 3, 1871
     
NOTE:-- became TASMANIA.