The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Lake Vessels in Service Reduced in Number Decline in the number of bulk vessels operating on the Great Lakes continues, though the reduction since July 15 is not large. In some quar- ters it is felt that the demand in September and October will call for additional tonnage. In the mean- time, however, there has been a marked reduction in the number of vessels in operation since the peak, on June 15. Figures compiled by C. C. Linde- man of the M. A. Hanna Co., Cleve- land, show that on Aug. 15 Ameri- ean lake bulk vessels in commission numbered 180 with a total trip ca- pacity of 1,628,000 tons, giving a percentage of 54.88 in number and 59.23 in carrying capacity of the to- tal fleet available. This may be compared with the standing on July 15, when 190 vessels (57.92 per cent) of 1,696,000 tons capacity (61.7 per cent) were in commission. The standing on June 15 was still more favorable when 205 vessels (62.5 per cent) of 1,835,000 tons ca- pacity (66.76 per cent) were in com- mission. What is of even greater signif- icance, this is the first time the num- ber and tonnage of vessels have fal- len below the figures for the corre- sponding date last year. On Aug. 15, 1933, no less than 217 (65.76 per cent) of 1,895,100 tons capacity (68.59 per cent), were in commis- sion. Of the 180 vessels in commission on Aug. 15, 134 were engaged in the ore trade and 46 in other bulk trades. On July 15, of the 190 ves- sels in commission 149 were en- gaged in the ore trade. <A year ago on Aug. 15, of the 217 vessels in commission, 185 were engaged in the ore trade. Nine companies were operating 100 per cent of their available ton- nage on Aug. 15. Among these companies were: Cleveland Cliffs Iron Co., with 21 vessels; M. A. Hanna Co., with 10 vessels; Inland Steamship Co., Hutchinson & Co., managers, with 3 vessels; Reiss Steamship Co., with 9 vessels; Val- ley Camp Steamship Co., with 8 ves- sels; and several smaller companies with from 2 to 4 vessels each. The Pittsburgh Steamship Co. with a total fleet of 86 vessels con- tinued 43 in operation, all engaged in the ore trade. The Interlake Steamship Co., with a fleet of 49 ves- sels had 22 in commission, 11 in the ore trade. Hutchinson & Co., with a fleet of 19 vessels, had 6 in com- mission, 3 in the ore trade. Beth- lehem Transportation Corp., with a total fleet of 16 vessels had 10 in commission, all in the ore _ trade. Great Lakes Steamship Co., with 19 vessels had 4 in service, all in the ore trade, Boland & Cornelius, with 12 vessels had 6 in commission, one of which was in the ore trade. The Columbia Steamship Co., with 10 vessels, had 4 in service, all in the ore trade. The Shenango Steamship Co., with 3 vessels had 2 engaged, both in the ore trade. The Midland Steamship Co., had 4 in service, all in the ore trade. The Interstate Steamship Co., had 3 of its 4 ves- sels engaged in the ore trade. The Wilson Transit Co. with a to- tal fleet of 11 vessels had 9 in sery- ice, none of which were in the ore trade. H. & G. M. Steinbrenner had two of its 5 vessels in service, neither of which was engaged in the ore trade. Heads Two Companies J. Burton Ayers, well known Great Lakes shipping man, has been elected general manager of the Great Lakes Steamship Co., Cleveland, and president and assistant treasurer of the Toledo Shipbuilding Co., Toledo, O., succeeding H. S. Wilkinson in both positions. Announcement of Mr. Ayres’ promotion was made in Cleveland on Aug. 11 by Horace S&S. Wilkinson, president of the Great J. Burton Ayers Lakes Steamship Co., and chairman of the board of the Toledo Shipbuild- ing Co. Mr. Ayers has been connected with shipping on the Great Lakes for 34 years, beginning his career with the United States Transportation Co., then managed by Capt. William W. Brown and H. S. Wilkinson. In the year 1900 when he joined the com- pany five steamers were built and in the following year six additional ves- sels. In 1910 the company had a to- tal of 21 ships in the iron ore, coal and grain trades. It was then and (Continued on Page 38) MARINE REVIEwW—September, 1934 Coal Movement Continues Ahead of Last Year Bituminous coal shipments, via lake vessels from Lake Erie ports, from the beginning of the season up to 7 a.m. Aug. 13, amounted to 19,- 115,463 net tons of cargo and 607,- 126 net tons of bunker, giving a total of 19,722,589 net tons. This is an increase of nearly three and three quarter million tons over the same period last year and it is not far from double the movement in the same pe- riod of 1932. It is also about three and a half million tons more than the movement in the same period of 1931. The figures used are compiled by the Ore & Coal Exchange, Cleveland. Specific figures for the bituminous coal movement in previous years are as follows: In the same period dur- ing 1933, cargo coal moved amounted to 15,605,985 tons and the bunker coal, 443,129 tons, making a total of 16,049,114 net tons. For the same period in 1932, cargo, bunkers and total bituminous coal shipments were respectively; 10,206,059 tons, 252,- 410 tons, and 10,458,469 net tons. For the same period in the year 1931, the figures for bituminous coal ship- ments in cargo, bunkers and total, were respectively; 15,712,509 tons, 516,805 tons and 16,229,214 net tons. Average shipments of bituminous coal each week for the four weeks ending 7 a.m., Aug. 13, amounted to 1,167,543 net tons of cargo and 389,- 874 tons of bunkers. This is a de- crease from the average weekly ship- ments for the four preceding weeks of 47,932 tons of cargo. Anthracite coal shipments on the lakes for the season up to Aug. 1 amounted to 390,039 long tons, while for the same period in 1933 the amount was 171,392 long tons, Schools to Open Again The Lake Carriers’ associations has announced that it will, during the coming winter, conduct free schools in navigation and marine engineer- ing. These schools will be located at Cleveland, with a class in marine en- gineering at Marine City, Mich, Application forms for enrollment will be sent to the ships in Septem- ber. Classes are to begin on Thurs- day, Jam. 3, Lveo- To be accepted as students, the welfare plan committee will require that applicants fully meet the rules and regulations of the United States Steamboat Inspection service for eligibility to licensed grades in American lake vessels. Capt. John C. Murray, assisted by Capt. C. A. Martin, will be in charge of the Cleveland class in navigation. David Gaehr will conduct the Cleve- land class in marine engineering and Ralph Britz will continue as instruc- tor of the Marine City class. 33