1932--FIFTY YEARS AGO- 982 (Continued Nothing could more clearly indicate the condition of the bulk cargo trade on the Great Lakes this year, than the following figures, as reported in the October 1932 Marine Review: "There were some 332 bulk freighters on the Great Lakes. Of this number, there were in commission on June 23, 67 or 20.18 per cent. Of these 67, from 15 to 20 were engaged in carrying ore. On August 1, 76 bulk freighters were in commission, representing 22.89 per cent of the fleet. On September 1, 90 bulk freighters were in commission representing 27.1 per cent. Of this number, about 22 were engaged in carrying ore. This increase in the number of vessels in commis-— sion on September 1 was due to an increase in ore movement, but mainly for carrying and the prospects of carrying coal and grain." Passenger trade had experienced a greater decline in 1932 than had the movement of freight, although the latter was also restricted. Summer resort and tourist trade had been quiet, reflecting reduced expenditures on vacations on the part of the public. This was particularly true of the more expen- sive lake trips. Transit lines were featuring short three and four day cruises to Mackinac Island, Lake Huron and Georgian Bay, with rates as low as $8 per day in- cluding all expenses. Cheap excursion trips were the chief attraction to lake travellers. While there was a substantial decline in over-night trip passengers, business in the one-day trips was off only about 10 per cent since a year ago. A $1 excursion to St. Joseph and Benton Harbor proved extremely popular this year, but trucks offered stiff com- petition to the Lake Michigan steamship lines, particularly in the movement of fruits and vegetables. All expense one-day/two-night cruises aboard a C&B liner went for $8.85 on Wednesdays and Saturdays, from Cleveland to Buffalo. Round trips on the steamers COLUMBIA and STE. CLAIRE to Bob-Lo Island were 50¢ for adults and 35¢ for children and a round trip to Put-in-Bay aboard Ashley & Dustin's steamer, PUT-IN-BAY, was only $1.25. Canada Steamship Lines offered an all-expense eight day cruise from Detroit to Saguenay and return for $127.20, and the D&C line featured a Detroit to Mackinac Island round trip at $22.50. All expense seven day cruises on four lakes were offered by the Georgian Bay Line ships NORTH AMERICAN and SOUTH AMERICAN on "C" deck for only $67.50. The big ship SEEANDBEE, feeling the pinch of the Depression, sus- pended operations and did not operate this season. Other happenings in 1932 included the official opening of the present Welland Ship Canal on August 6. First to transit the canal was the Canada Steamship Lines 621-foot freighter LEMOYNE (1926). The United States and Canada began negotiations for a treaty for the development of a waterway for ocean-going ships between the Great Lakes and the Atlantic, and the Bureau of Steamboat Inspection was amalgated with the Bureau of Navigation by an act of Congress, under the title of the Bureau of Navigation and Steamboat Inspec- tion. The bulk freighter JOHN J. BOLAND, JR. (1928) foundered in Lake Erie on October 5. Four lives were lost. The Goodrich Line celebrated its 75th anniversary at Chicago and part of the Living- stone channel from Upper Entrace light to Bar Point light was closed to navigation in order to carry out the dredging operations. The work took four years. Both upbound and downbound traffic used the Amherstburg channel. This is the way it was in 1932.