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STATE The automobile ferry service at the Straits of Mackinac was FERRIES begun by the Michigan State Highway Commission in 1924. With the completion of the newest unit, launched last week, there have been eight ships engaged in this work in the past quarter century. We list and describe theme, herewith, in chronological order. 1) ARIEL - wooden screw ferry, built in 1881 at Detroit for the old Walkerville and Detroit Ferry Co. and ran for many years between Walkerville and Jos Campau Street, (See DMH v.2,no.9). Began the ferry service at the Straits, largely as an experiment in 1923, and operated there for about three years. For a few years after that she ran between Sarnia and Port Huron, then lay idle at Port Huron and Detroit, where she finally sunk in the St.Jean St.slip in 1948, and was razed. 2) MACKINAW CITY - steel screw driven steamship, 172 x 44, built at Milwaukee in 1919 for the U.S.Army as a supply transport and originally named COLONEL CARD. Converted for auto ferrying and put into service at the Straits in 1925, and remained in the fleet there until 1942, when she was taken to salt water. 3) SAINTE IGNACE - steel screw driven steamship, 172 x 44, built at Milwaukee in 1919 as COLONEL POND, and likewise intended as a supply transport. Went up to the Straits in 1925. A few years later someone noted the error in the spelling of her French name, and it was corrected to SAINT IGNACE. This ship went to the ocean in 1942. 4) THE STRAITS OF MACKINAC - steel screw auto ferry, the first unit built especially for the service. Built at River Rouge, 1928, dimensions, 196 x 48. Still in service as the reserve ship of the fleet. 5) CITY OF CHEBOYGAN - steel, twin screw, 259 x 52, built at Cleve- land in 1906 as the railway ferry ANN ARBOR No.4. After nearly three decades of reliable service on northern Lake Michigan, she was acquired by the State Highway Commission and converted for carrying autos, using her original stern loading gate. In the winter of 1948-49 she was converted to double end loading and unloading. Still in service. 6) CITY OF MUNISING - steel, twin screw, 338 x 56, built at Cleve- land in 1903 as the car ferry PERE MARQUETTE 20 (See DMH v.4,no 4).Rebuilt for autos in 1936, and again reconverted for two way loading in 1948. This ship is one of the present fleet. (Continued, bottom of Page 4) SAINT IGNACE State Auto Ferries CITY OF PETOSKEY