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Page 87 LIGHT SHIP #57 - GRAYS REEF by JOHN C. EBERSOL Dedicated to my late friend, Dr. Walter Hirthie Marine Elistorian In an era before technical and engineering advances enabled the marking of off-shore shoal waters with fixed platform lights or lighted buoys, shoal waters on the Great Lakes were marked with floating lighthouses called lightships. The concept of a ship to mark either a shoal distant from land or a point of departure was well developed in Europe by 1800 and in this country by 1819. Eventually about eighteen shoals or navigation points were marked on the Great Lakes (light sta- tions) where ships (known only by their numbers after 1867) were positioned for the navigation season, mid-April thru early December. Each lightship on station was distinguished by a distinct hull color and color of station names (daymarks), an elevated light at night, and a steam operated fog whistle. Some later lightships employed submarine signal bells as well as radio direction finding beacons. Originally lacking propulsion machinery, the numbered lightships were towed to station in the LIGHTSHIP #57 under her own power. This photo was taken with a Brownie box camera. Photo by Roy Ance