Fish Tug Two Bros. (1909–1913)

Identification & Site Information

• Name: Two Bros.
• Other Names: None
• Official Number: 208773
• Vessel Type at Loss: Wooden gas-powered fish Tug
• Builder: Unknown, built in Northport, Michigan
• Year Built & Launched: 1909
• Specifications: Length: 26 ft (7.9 m) Beam: 9 ft (2.7 m)Depth: 3 ft (0.9 m)
• Gross Tonnage: 12 GT
• Net Tonnage: 11 NT
• Date Lost: January 26, 1913
• Location of Loss: Northport, Michigan, Lake Michigan
• Cause of Loss: Fire, Total Loss
• Loss of Life: None reported
• Cargo at Time of Loss: Unknown (likely none, as the vessel was docked or moored at the time)

Vessel Description & History

The Two Bros. was a small wooden fish Tug, constructed in 1909 in Northport, Michigan. Fish tugs of this era were sturdy workboats, used for gillnetting and commercial fishing operations on the Great Lakes.

Operating out of Grand Haven, Michigan, Two Bros. would have been part of the region’s commercial fishing fleet, which supplied fish to markets in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Illinois.

Final Incident & Loss

On January 26, 1913, while in Northport, Michigan, the Two Bros. caught fire and burned to a Total Loss.  No specific details about the cause of the fire are recorded, but common causes for vessel fires during this period included: Engine or fuel system malfunctions (gasoline engines were a new technology at the time). Heating stoves or onboard lanterns tipping over. Electrical failures or sparks igniting fuel vapors. Fortunately, no lives were lost, suggesting that the vessel may have been moored and unoccupied at the time of the fire.

Final Disposition & Salvage

• The vessel was completely destroyed, and no salvage efforts were reported.
• Given its small size and wooden construction, any remains would have been scattered or burned beyond recovery.
• • No confirmed discovery of wreckage.
• • Any remnants would likely have been removed or deteriorated over time.

Resources & Links

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes: http://www.maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.ca
• Great Lakes Maritime Database (GLMD): https://greatlakeships.org
• David Swayze Shipwreck File: https://usace.contentdm.oclc.org
• Great Lakes Vessel Database (BGSU): https://greatlakes.bgsu.edu/vessels

Conclusion

The Two Bros. was a small but important part of the Great Lakes fishing industry, operating for just four years before being destroyed by fire in 1913. Like many early gasoline-powered vessels, she may have fallen victim to the fire hazards of early marine engines. While her remains are lost to history, her story is part of the larger maritime legacy of Michigan’s fishing fleet.