Sault Daily Star (Sault Sainte Marie, MI), Monday, April 11, 1955

The navigation season at the Canadian Sault Canal was unofficially opened this morning at 7:15 when the Manzzutti locked up bound for the Algoma Steel dock.

Because the Manzzutti is home based, its Captain John B. Perry will not figure in the race for the traditional top had and silk gloves presented to the first captain through the locks no will this be considered the official opening of navigation

After picking up a cargo at Algoma Steel, the Manzzutti will head down bound for Chicago. The Mancox also of the Yankcanuck fleet and also docked at the Sault over the winter, is expected to go up tomorrow.. The Yankcanuck, in dry dock at Cornwall during the winter will not arrive in the Sault until late in April because of the lateness of the canal opening there.

The first boat through the American locks is anticipated for late tomorrow or early Wednesday morning. "It's still anybody's race," said Commander T. A. Dahlburg of the United States Coast Guard " in spite of all the predictions."

Commander Dahlburg stated that the lower river is ice-free and no difficulty is expected there unless there is a sudden strong wind which would drift ice back into the river. Above the locks, there are some windrowed drifts, nine to ten feet in height.

"For this reason, the Mackinaw will escort all steamers as far as Parisienne Island, for the next week or until the conditions clear." said Commander Dahlburg.