L2 » The BULLHORN The 1966 navigation season conclu- ded in the Welland Canal with the downbound passage of Reoch's self— unloader LEADALE Dec. 16. The Soo was closed Dec. 20 with lockage of Papachristidis' MONTREALAIS, en- route to Port McNicholl with stor- age grain. The last salty to clear the Seaway was the NEW YORK CITY on Dec. 9. Shortly after the sale of the Wil- son Marine Transit Fleet to Litton Industries for $20 million was confirmed, American Steamship Co., announced that negotiations were underway with Oswego Shipping Corp of New York for the sale of its 13-vessel fleet of self-unloaders for $30,225,000. Oswego is a hold- ing company which owns’ several salt-water operations, including Marine Transport Lines. Through its affiliate, Oswego operates approximately 70 vessels in the grain, ore and coal trades. The name American Steamship will be retained in the lake operation by the new owners. This sale has now been consummated. On Nove 23 the Detroit District of the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers announced that the new 1,200-foot lock under construction at the Soo would be offiéially designated Poe Lock, perpetuating the name of the noted Civil War figure who twice served as officer in charge of the St.Marys Falls Canal. The new lock earlier slated for completion by late next summer, may not be ready until June, 1968. In mid-January the stern section of the sunken DANIEL J. MORRELL was found some 22 miles northeast of Point aux Barques, considerably north of the area originally be- lieved the site of her foundering. Examination of the section by closed-circuit tv cameras has re- vealed that neither lifeboat was launched from her after cabin area haIG SS For some time selected units of the American lake fleet have been equipped with strain gauges ina study aimed at determining the amounts of hull stress under vary- ing conditions of load and wea- ther. Inland Steél's EDWARD L. RYERSON, upbound in Lake Michigan in the storm that sank the MORRELL was shown to have undergone hull stresses of up to 23,000 pounds per square inch, greater than any recorded on salt-water vesselse The Canadian Department of Trans- port has begun an investigation to determine the hull conditions of units of the Canadian fleet of 40 years of age and older. A section of the bottom measuring six to se- ven feet square will be cut out and plates analyzed to determine chemical content, brittleness at varying temperatures, tensile strength and extent of crystalli- zation. Finding may result in some older vessels being withdrawn from service, certified for operation only during a limited part of the navigation season or rebuilt to reinforce certain structural mem- bers. A group of American Soo civic lea- ders are said to be considering the feasibility of a $2,400,000 bond issue to finance restoration of historic sites in their area. Mentioned as a possible project is acquisition of the whaleback stea- mer JOHN ERICSSON, presented last year by Upper Lakes Shipping, Ltd. to the City of Hamilton as a mus—- eum. The project was abandoned and the boat returned to the donor. CPR will. continue freight service with their steamer ASSINIBOIA this coming season. SHIPYARD SHAVINGS Davie Shipbuilding, Lauzon, laun- ched the Halco tanker JAMES TRANS- PORT on Dec. 3. Earlier reports that Davieship would build two