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121 THUNDER BAY ex MALTA steel barge (C 131060 later C173404 ex U 92637). 1917-1919. Original as barge: 2,237.48 tons gross, 2,132.40 net, 302' (between perpendiculars). Remeasured Canadian in 1913 = 2,144 gross and 1,951 net. Capacity 118,000 bushels of wheat = 2,300 tons. As steamer: 1,870 tons gross and 1,109 tons net, 247.6'. As powered bulk carrier: threecylinder triple expansion = 400 indicated horsepower, 100 rated horsepower engine formerly used in Montreal Transportation Co.'s NICARAGUA. As tanker: 1,984 tons gross, 1,447 net. Built by Chicago Shipbuilding Co. in South Chicago and finished in January of 1895. Yard #13. Double bottom. Two masts. Steam windlass, capstan and steering gear. Had electric light by 1921. 1914 insurance rating = 95/100. 1917 value $130,000. 1918-19 value $110,500. 1920 value $29,437.52. 1921 on the company books for $65,000. The Minnesota Steamship Co. (Pickands Mather managers) were MALTA`s first owners. In 1900, the Minnesota Iron Co. was sold to Federal Steel (J. Pierpont Morgan). Federal Steel was, in turn, taken over by US Steel in 1901 and MALTA thereby went to the Pittsburgh Steamship Co. She came to Canadian registry in 1913 at the same time as CORONA (the future PAIPONNGE) and was renamed. She was operated by Canadian Towing & Wrecking of Port Arthur Ontario (Western Dry Dock Co.) although personally owned by James Whalen. Canadian Northwest Steamship Co., that was by then also owned by James Whalen, became her owner in 1916. THUNDER BAY was often a consort barge for PAIPOONGE. THUNDER BAY grounded and blocked the West Neebish Cut in the St. Mary's River in 1916. Her ownership was transferred to Montreal Transportation Co. when they took over Canadian Northern Steamships on 13 April 1917. Montreal Transportation Co. was, by that time, passing from the control of Roy M. Wolvin to the control of Canada Steamship Lines in which he had an interest. She was one of those Montreal Transportation Co. vessels sold to Angel B. Lagueruela of Havana Cuba. The steamers PAIPOONGE and WESTERIAN were sold to Lagueruela at the same time. It is unclear whether Lagueruela represented sugar interests or if he was a broker. THUNDER BAY fetched a price of $290,000 on 3 October 1918 (deposit $25,000). She was cut in two at Collingwood Ontario although the buyer defaulted. Despite that, her bow and stern were separately towed down the lakes and reassembled at Canadian Vickers in Montreal. She was at Sorel Quebec in 1919 when Montreal Transportation Co., Collingwood Shipbuilding and Sincennes-McNaughton jointly bought her back for $43,500. Collingwood Shipbuilding and Montreal Transportation Co. then bought out Sincennes-McNaughton for $20,000 and finally Montreal Transportation Co. transferred their 50% of her to Collingwood Shipbuilding. The American Bureau of Shipping Great Lakes Register 1919-21 showed her 178