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Up and Down the Great Lakes Ore and Package Freight Movement Increases — Lake Levels—Pro- peller Club Activities—Agreement Studied—More Ships in Service ANADIAN government figures continue to show that traffic on the Great Lakes this year is greatly improved over a year ago. Freight through the Canadian and United States locks at Sault Ste. Marie during May amounted to 3,- 490,336 tons, or over twice the ton- nage of May, 1932 which was 1,568,- 462 tons. Wheat shipments increased from 17,537,997 bushels- to 35,301,- 914 bushels and other grains in- creased from 5,269,082 bushels to 9,- 579,262 bushels. Iron ore increased by over 600 per cent to 953,152 tons. It must be remarked, however, that this is still light compared with 1931 and preceding years. Bituminous coal almost doubled, increasing from 445,092 tons in May, 1932 to 821,- 273 tons for May, 19338. An increase has also been shown for the Welland ship canal, due main- ly to a heavy movement of wheat amounting to 461,042 tons or 15,- 368,066 bushels. This had the effect of increasing the total freight through the Welland canal from 1,- 036,879 tons in May, 1932 to 1,- 109 113 tons. for May, 1933. Flour was heavier this year during May by 30,301 tons, merchandise by 43,507 tons and bituminous coal by 61,474 tons. Barley decreased by 56,880 tons, rye by 90,768 tons and pulp- wood by 31,680 tons. Through the St. Lawrence canals large decreases in barley, rye, pulp- wood and bituminous coal and small- er decreases in other commodities more than offset increases in wheat shipments of 84,855 tons, or 2,828,- 500 bushels; in flour of 19,956 tons; in gasoline of 20,432 tons; in mer- chandise of 37,146 tons; and in an- thracite coal of 28,003 tons; so that the total traffic amounting to 835,430 tons was less than for May, 1932 by 42,673 tons. For the two months April and May, however, the total traffic through the St. Lawrence canals amounting to 1,187,528 tons was heavier than for the same two months in 1932 by 30,499 tons. Package Freight Increase A definite increase of as much as 22 per cent in the package freight movement was reported early in June by H. S. Noble, president of the Great Lakes Transit Corp., Buffalo. This movement is to and from Lake . 84 Superior and Michigan ports. Increases were noted in all the various categories of the package freight trade, no single commodity being responsible for the increase. The Great Lakes Transit Corp. op- erates ten package freighters from Buffalo. May Lake Levels The United States Lake survey re- ports the monthly mean stages of the Great Lakes for the month of May as follows: Feet Above Lakes Mean Sea Level SUupeYrior - s.06...4.0+. sedactaean swcsiee kossuatecasecs 602.37 MircHigeametlurOR cifcsessscccscacssssssessess 578.46 Ste Cla yess ascavcedac cath astassassucscusshvevace 574.60 JOD acy teen MS tyas PORE PE Seen eee 572.10 QP NIO Heirs viviccnccckssy scesncachcucecesancerices 245.32 Lake Superior was 0.48-foot higher than in April and it was 0.17-foot high- er than the May stage of a year ago. Lakes Michigan-Huron were 0.50-foot higher than in April and they were 0.09-foot lower than the May stage of a year ago. Lake Erie was 0.46-foot higher than in April and it was 0.26-foot higher than the May stage of a year ago. Lake Ontario was 0.47-foot higher than in April and it was 0.82-foot lower than the May stage of a year ago, 0.97-foot below the average stage of May of the last ten years. Propeller Club Field Day The first annual golf tournament and general get-together of the mem- bers of the Propeller club, Port of Cleveland, was held at the West- wood Country club on June 22. Around 150 members and guests par- ticipated, in the activities. Arrange- ments for the party were effectively carried out by a committee consist- ing of W. P. Schaufele, Lee Wal- lace, Lee Hinslea, and Walter Dress- ler. The Propeller club of Chicago is now occupying permanent quarters in the Allerton hotel, 701 North Michigan avenue, Chicago. All mem- bers of Propeller clubs in other ports who happen to be in Chicago are in- vited to make use of the facilities. The annual convention of the Pro- peller Club of United States will be held at Pittsburgh on Oct. 12, 13 and 14, the Pittsburgh club acting as host. Among other attractions at MARINE REVIEW—July, 1933 that convention will be the oppor- tunity to attend the Navy-Pittsburgh football game on Oct. 14. Members of Propeller clubs in all ports are invited to attend. Arrangements can be made through the local organiza- tions. Annual election of officers of the Propeller club for the Port of Cleve- land, will be held on Monday eve- ning July 10. At that time officers will be elected for the ensuing year and directors will be elected, for one, two and three years. A notice has been issued of the change in names of three freight steamers operated by Midland Steamship Co. The Wm. H. BECKER is now the Epwarp N. SAUNDERS JR.; the FRANK SEITHER is now the HAzEN ButTiterR; and J. A. DoONALDSON is now the J. H. MAcouBREY. Ore Movement Increases During May this year shipments of ore from upper lake ports amount- ed to 900,534 tons as compared with 110,826 tons for the month of May, 1932. Up to June 1, 1933, a total of 983,744 tons of ore were shipped from upper lake ports, as compared with 154,899 tons up to June 1:a year ago. Balance of ore on docks at Lake Erie ports on June 1, 1933, amounted to 4,906,953 tons, compared with 5,5338,- 246 tons at the same time a year ago. Whether a continued increase in shipments will hold must depend up- on the condition of business. As there are now many assurances of increased activity, including the pub- lic works program, improvement in the ore moyement should continue. Suspend Agreement The shipping board held a hearing June 21 in Washington with refer- ence to the protest of the Wisconsin and Michigan Transportation (Co. against the approval under section 15 of the shipping act of L916. of an agreement between the Milwaukee Boat Co. and Pere Marquette line steamers, providing inter alia for joint operation and pooling of rev- enue. As this is written no information is available as to the details of. the outcome of this conference.