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{i Sree Strange globs have been washing up on Lake Erie beaches lately. They are thought to be margarine that is used to pack pipes dur- ing lay-up and is then blown ov- erboard on early trips. Suppos- edly the fish would eat it up before it washes ashore but they are apparently holding out for the "higher-priced spread." The pilothouse of the carferry ST. CLAIR was last seen resting on the deck of MéQueen's lighter T.F.NEWMAN at Amherstburg. Who is getting a new cottage? Prof. Harry Benford, of the Uni- versity of Michigan's School of Naval Architecture, has been called to Washington to consult on the possible use of 75 plus AP-5 troop transports as Lakers. Andrew E. Gibson, head of the Maritime Administration, has agreed to tour the Lakes in July aboard PAUL L. TIETJEN. And a bill giving Lakes operators the same breaks as saltwater op- erators has passed the House 307 to 1 and is expected to pass the Senate. Howcum all the sudden Washington interest in the Lakes of indifference sur after decades and even hostility? Could it be because of the heavy “shrinkage” in the Lakes fleet? Ge As of May 15 there were 129 out of 134 U. S. bulkers in commis— sion compared with 230 out of 246 on the same date in 1959, a loss of 101 in commission in the last decade. carrying capacity is up to 15,189 tons as compared to 12,170 for the 1959 boats but that still is a drop of 939,590 tons in total carry- ing capacity. Average CANADIAN PROGRESS set a new coal record, loading 32,435 net tons at Ashtabula for Courtright. Some unusual loads so far this season -- WILLIAM MCGONAGLE car- ried U.S.Steel pellets bound for Wheeling Steel; JOHN DYKSTRA had a load or two to National Steel Zug Island; Henry Ford II had a load into Cleveland; the Belgian PATIGNIES brought two glass-top- ped launches into Toronto from Holland. The MISS KIM SIMPSON and MISS SHAWN SIMPSON will be used for tour service in the lagoons of the Toronto islands. ARTHUR B. HOMER set an Escanaba record, loading 25,860 gross tons of ore on April 27. Tug MINN (a.MARY T. TRACY, b. YANKEE) is now pushing Becker's barge inthe Peerless clinker run from Port Huron to Detroit. a ww