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THE WHITEFISH TRAPEZIUM The recent loss of the EDMUND FITZGERALD near Whitefish Point, happened in an area where in the past there have been several disappearances of big vessels, in most cases with no survivors and little information as to what happened. If, on a map of eastern Lake Superior, we draw a line from Grand Marais, Mich, east past Whitefish Point as far as Point Ifoquois, then another line NNE past Gros Cap, Goulais Bay and Copper- Mine Point to Cape Gargantua, then westward to Caribou Island and fin- ally southward back to Grand Marais, we have constructed a four sided figure, something less than 100 miles on a side. Within this trapezium the following disappearances have occurred, all involving large ships. The list below does not include numerous known losses through collision, serantae or fine, but only those which have something of the unknown about them. WESTERN RESERVE, Steel bulk freighter, owned by the Minch interests of Cleveland. Built by Cleveland S.B.Co in 1890, 300 x 41 x 25. Broke up and foundered c.60 miles W. of Whitefish Point, 8-30-1892. One survivor, thirty-one lost. BANNOCKBURN, steel canaller, owned: by Montreal Transportation Co. Built by Sir Raylton Dixon & Co, Middlesborough, England in 1893. 244 x 40 x 18. Sailed from Port Arthur, downbound, 11-21-1902 and was never heard from again. One piece of wreckage found near Grand Marais. CYPRUS, steel bulk freighter operated by Pickands, Mather for Lackawanna Steamship Co. Built, 1907 at Lorain by American S.B.Co. 420 x 52 x 29. Foundered on downbound leg of second trip, off Deer Park L.S. Station, 10-11-1907. One survivor, who stated that vessel capsized due to water in hold and shifting cargo. D.M.CLEMSON, steel bulk freighter operated by Wolvin for Provident Steamship Co. Built by Superior S.B.Co., at Superior, 1903. 448 x 52 x 28. Foundered, upbound, somewhere west of W,itefish Point, 12-2-1908. No survivors, 24 lost. HENRY B.SMITH, steel bulk freighter operated by Hawgood for the Acme Transit Co. Built at Lorain in 1906 by American S.B.Co. 525 x 55 x 31. S,iled from Marquette with ore, downbound and was never heard from again, in the Great Storm, 11-11-1913. C.F.CURTIS, wooden steam barge, and consorts ANNIE M.BETERSON & SELDEN »MARVIN, sailed from Baraga, Mich on the Keweenaw Peninsula for the lower lakes, 11-18-1914, loaded with lumber. They were never seen again. Wreckage and bodies came ashore near Grand Marais. C.F.CURTIS, 1882 Marine City by Lester. 196 x 32 x 13. ANNIE M.PETERSON, 1874 Green Bay, Wis. 190 x 33 x 13. SELDEN E.MARVIN, 1881 Toledo, 175 s 33 x l2. All three belonged to Edward Hines Lumber Co., Chicago, CERISOLES and INKERMAN, steel trawler-type minesweepers, built by Canadian Car & Foundry Co., Fort William for the French Navy. 136 x 26 x 13. Sailed together from Fort William for S,ult Ste. Marie and were never heard from again. Exact location of loss is not known, as no wreckage was found and no bodies recovered. Seventy-six lives were lost from the two ships. (See P.2) and finally, the EDMUND FITZGERALD! We may not have anything quite as mysterious as the Bermuda Triangle, but our "Whitefish Trapezium" has proved every bit as dangerous.