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THE LOOKOUT Continuing a practice started two years ago by Bill Luke, we pause at the start 0f the new shipping season to review the changes that have taken place dn the ma- jon Lake ome dn the past year. We base our information on the best avail- abke sources but it is not necessarily official. Fleets ane neferred to by their popular designations. Wwe have not Listed fleets in which no changes have taken place since Last spring. Former names are given only when major changes ane reported for that vessel. Algoma: With the opening of navigation, the new 639' self-unloader ALGORAIL (ii) joined the fleet and later in the season a 730' diesel bulker will be delivered. Meanwhile, ALGOCEN (a. JOHN J. BARLUM) has reportedly been sold to Steel Fact- ors, Ltd. for scrapping overseas, after her proposed sale to Hindman failed to be completed. AGAWA and GOUDREAU have not been fitted out and their future is in doubt. Bayswater: This company is apparently in receivership. Their two idle boats BAYFAIR and BAYGEORGE are held by a bank and the veteran DOLOMITE (a.EMPIRE CITY; b. SUMATRA), operated under charter last season, is reportedly for sale for scrap by her owner, R.E. Law Stone Quarries. Bethlehem: On April 25 this fleet an- nounced that they had signed a contract with Erie Marine Div. of Litton Indust- ries for 1970 delivery of a 1000' self- unloader. The new giant will be built at Erie, Pa. and Pascagoula, Miss., with assembly at Erie. She will be 105' wide, carry 51,500 tons of pellets which will be unloaded at the rate of 20,000 tons per hour. She will have two bow thrust- ers and two stern thrusters and will be powered by 4 G. M. diesels driving twin screws. Meanwhile the EDWARD Y. TOWNSEND continues to be laid up at the Soo as is their ELBA at Toledo. Both vessels face an uncertain fate. Branch Lines: During the 1967 season, J. EDOUARD SIMARD became just EDOUARD SIMARD. Early spring finds FIRBRANCH still cold at Sorel. Buckeye: Now operating as a division of American Ship Building Co., all four of their boats are scheduled to operate. JAMES DAVIDSON, on charter from Tomlin- son last year even though she didn't op- erate, is not with the fleet this year. Canada Steamship Lines: After disposing Of R.O. PEIMAN (a. E.B.OSLER; b. OSLER), MESINOUNE and RENVOYLE (a.GLENLEDI) dur- ing the '67 season, it now appears that HAGARTY (a. J.H.HAGARTY) is being strip- ped at Toronto. Also laid up are COL- LINGWOOD, MARTIAN, MIDLAND PRINCE and STADACONA. The new 730' bulker FRONTEN- AC and the newly-converted self-unloader: THUNDER BAY are expected out soon. An-“ other 730' self-unloader is scheduled to be delivered from Collingwood in early '69. The fleet starts this season with a redesigned fleet flag. Canadian Pacific: For the first time since 1883 C.P.R. service between Georg- ian Bay and Lake Superior will be miss- ing. ASSINIBOIA is reportedly for sale. Columbia: This year BENE. TATE and BUCKEYE join HOWARD M. HANNA,‘ JR. and O. S. McFARLAND in lay-up awaiting probable scrapping. Meanwhile JAMES DAVIDSON has been chartered from Tomlinson while J. CLARE MILLER remains on charter to Gart- land. Erie Sand: After adding the small sand- boat LITL ROCK last summer, the newly- converted J. S. St. JOHN joins the fleet this year. ALPENA has been renamed SID- NEY E. SMITH, JR. Rumors indicate the out. Koppers Co. now controls Erie. Gartland: Reports from Cleveland indi- cate that FRANK E. TAPLIN (a. CHARLES W. KOTCHER) is being welded up for movement to Europe for scrapping. J. CLARE MII- LER continues on charter from Columbia.