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Up and Down the Great Lakes ‘Navigation Opens—Grain—Coal—Ore—Lake Levels— Propeller Club—Protective Association—Vessels in Service opened later this season than in former years. April 29 was the opening day for the United States locks at Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., as compared with April 19 last year. The first transit through the Cana- dian lock took place on May 1. The Welland ship canal opened on April 17 as compared with April 4 last year, and the St. Lawrence canals opened on April 18, four days later than in 1933. The freight passing through these canals during April this year was consequently consider- ably lighter than during April, 1933. According to the Canadian bureau of statistics, only 16 vessels of 16,841 registered tons transited the Sault Ste. Marie canals during April as compared with 338 vessels of 679,129 registered tons in April, 1933. The total freight through these canals in April, 1934 amounted to 12,897 tons compared with 695,712 tons during April, 1933. No freight transited the Canadian locks at Sault Ste. Marie during April, 1934, while 120,475 tons of freight transited this canal in April 1938. For April, 1934 the total freight through the Welland ship canal was 254,011 tons as compared with 587,- 854 tons in April, 1933. Only 54,019 tons of freight passed through the St. Lawrence canals during April, 1934, as compared with 352,098 tons of freight through these same canals during April, 1933. Ny everest on the Great Lakes Lake Grain Shipments The board of grain commissioners for Canada has issued its customary statement showing vessels loaded with grain at Fort. William and Port Arthur. For the period from the opening of navigation to May 7, 1934, (the first two vessels loaded on April, 30), wheat shipments were: 2,727,- 126 bushels to Canadian lower lake ports; 1,611,246 bushels to Montreal; 169,301 bushels to Quebec; 562,516 bushels to Buffalo; and 288,562 bushels to other United States ports; making qa total of 5,358,753 bushels. Besides wheat, there was also a total of 1,186,205 bushels of oats, and 567,894 bushels of barley, going only to Canadian ports on the lower lakes, Montreal and Quebec. Grain shipments increased rapidly in the period from May 8 to May 14 with wheat shipments of 2,805,675 bushels to Canadian lower lake ports; 1,259,147 bushels to Montreal; 217,643 bushels to Sorel, Que.; and 3,388,401 bushels to Buffalo; making a total for that period of 7,670,868 bushels (fractions of bushels have been omitted). The total shipment of oats in this same period amounted to 1,493,420 bushels; of barley 846,- 475 bushels; and flaxseed, 28,531 bushels, going only to Canadian lower lake ports and Montreal. Lieut. L. L. Waite, U.S.N. will re- lieve Lieut. John G. Cross, U.S.N. as officer in charge of the branch hydro- graphic office at Cleveland. Lieuten- ant Cross, who has been ordered to duty on the Asiatic station, has been in charge of this office for two years. April Lake Levels The United States Lake survey re- ports the following monthly mean stages of the Great Lakes for the month of April, 1934, determined from daily readings of staff gages. Feet above Lakes mean sea level Superior: soak 602.17 Michigan-Huron .............. 577.64 St. Clair 3 cee er bi3.2o ED (al = atone te ee Rea SOI 570.12 ONRCANION AS ee ee 244,27 Lake Superior was 0.06 foot higher than in March and it was 0.26 foot above the April stage of a year ago. Lakes Michigan-Huron were 0.22 foot higher than in March and they were 0.32 foot below the April stage of a year ago. Lake Erie was 0.52 foot higher than in March and was 1.55 feet below the April stage of a year ago. Lake Ontario was 0.59 foot higher than in March and it was 0.58 foot below the April stage of a year ago, 1.65 feet below the average stage of April of the last ten years. Propeller Club Meetings The Propeller club of the port of Cleveland celebrated national mari- time day, May 22, by holding a dinner at the Hotel Carter. Over 100 mem- bers and guests attended. A. T. Wood, president of the club, presided. Capt. R. W. England acted as toastmaster. Robert G. McCreary gave an interest- ing account of the historic voyage of MARINE REviEw—June, 1934 the SAVANNAH. The principal speaker was Irg A. Campbell, well known New York ad- miralty lawyer and counsel of the American Steamship Owners’ associa- tion. Mr. Campbell has taken a leading part in drafting the proposed general shipping code and because of his in- timate connection with American maritime affairs, his analysis of the present condition and future prospects of the American merchant marine was received with the greatest interest. In his address he made it clear that necessary replacements of American ships in foreign trade cannot be made except through government aid to off- set differentials in the cost of build- ing and operation. In coastwise ship- ping he emphasized the fact that un- less some way is found to bring rates again to a profitable level the pros- pects of adequate replacements are anything but bright. He stated that he preferred to see the industry make an attempt at self regulation under a code with adequate governmental su- pervision and control instead of ab- solute governmental regulation, and without some form of regulation there can be no prosperity and without pros- perity there can be no private build- ing of ships. The Propeller club of the port of Toledo held a dinner meeting at Toledo on May 16. The principal ad- dress was delivered by Rev. R. Lin- coln Long, who spoke of his experi- ences during a world voyage, and re- ferred to the importance of an Ameri- can merchant marine as a valuable national asset. Coal Shipments Underway Bituminous coal shipments from Lake Erie ports from Jan. 1, 1934 to May 1 amounted to 1,739,583 net tons of cargo and 40,205 tons bunk- ers, or a total of 1,779,788 tons, as compared with a total, cargo and bunkers, of 1,545,159 tons for the same period in 19338, and a total of 1,823,338 tons in the same period of 1932. The shipment of bituminous coal as cargo this year from Jan, 1 to 7 a.m., May 14, amounted to 3,254,271 net tons, and 84,873 net tons of bunker coal, or a total of 3,839,144 net tons, during that period. This compares with a total of cargo coal and bunkers for the same period in 1933 of 2,785,976 tons. 35