Shipwreck Report: Tug Wauwona (Also Seen as Wawona) (1908–1917)

Identification & Site Information

• • Vessel Name: Wauwona (also recorded as Wawona)
• • Other Names: None
• • Official Number: C126055
• • Vessel Type: Wooden propeller-driven Tug (fishery support vessel)
• • Built: 1908, Owen Sound, Ontario
• • Home Port: Owen Sound, Ontario
• Specifications
• • Length: 60 feet (18.3 metres)
• • Beam: 13 feet (4.0 metres)
• • Depth: 5 feet (1.5 metres)
• • Tonnage: 31 tons

Operational History

The Wauwona was a small wooden-hulled fishing Tug, built in Owen Sound, Ontario, in 1908. She was used primarily in the commercial fishing industry of Georgian Bay and Lake Huron, likely assisting in:

• Hauling fish from commercial trap nets
• Transporting fishermen and supplies
• Towing small fishing scows or fish carriers

Fishing Support on Lake Huron Based in Owen Sound, she would have operated in the North Channel, Georgian Bay, and Lake Huron’s Manitoulin region. Her typical work area likely included Manitoulin Island, Killarney, and the Bruce Peninsula.

Final Voyage and Loss

• Date of Loss: June 20, 1917
• Location: Wall Island, south of Manitoulin Island, Lake Huron
• Cause: Fire
• Cargo at Loss: None
•  Loss of Life: Unknown (no confirmed fatalities in sources)

Incident Details

While operating near Wall Island, south of Manitoulin Island, the Wauwona caught fire and burned to a Total Loss. The cause of the fire is uncertain, but possibilities include: Engine-room fire caused by overheated machinery or fuel ignition. Accidental onboard fire, possibly related to heating or cooking equipment. There is no clear record of casualties, but given the small size of the vessel, the crew may have escaped safely.

Legacy and Significance

Part of Ontario’s Great Lakes Fishing Industry The Wauwona was one of many small fishing tugs that supported the booming Great Lakes fishing industry in the early 20th century. Her loss reflects the hazards faced by fishery support vessels, which were often exposed to mechanical failures, rough weather, and fire risks.

Fire Risk in Early Wooden Tugs Many small wooden-hulled tugs used gasoline or coal-fired steam engines, both of which carried high fire risks. Fires on wooden vessels often spread rapidly, leaving little chance for salvage.

Connection to the Manitoulin Region  The Wauwona burned near Wall Island, part of a cluster of islands south of Manitoulin Island, an area known for fishing operations and remote docking stations. The wreck highlights the importance of this region to Ontario’s early fishing industry.

Wreck Site and Potential Remains

• Location: Wall Island, south of Manitoulin Island, Lake Huron
• Current Condition: Given that the Wauwona burned completely, no substantial wreckage is expected. Any remains would likely be metal fittings, engine components, or debris scattered on the lakebed.
• Potential for Discovery: No known wreckage surveys have been conducted at Wall Island, but the site could be examined using sonar or divers.

Further Research and Resources

• Marine Museum of the Great Lakes at Kingston https://www.marmuseum.ca Holds records on Great Lakes fishing tugs and shipwrecks.
• David Swayze Shipwreck File
• Maritime History of the Great Lakes http://www.maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.ca Contains records on small vessels lost in Georgian Bay and Lake Huron.
• Great Lakes Shipwreck Preservation Society Works to document and preserve small vessel wreck sites across the Great Lakes.
• Ontario Marine Heritage Committee May have historical documents or accounts of the Wauwona’s loss.

Conclusion

The Wauwona (1908–1917) was a wooden fishing Tug that served the Georgian Bay and Manitoulin fishery industrybefore being destroyed by fire at Wall Island in 1917. While no known wreckage remains, her loss reflects the fire risks of early gasoline and coal-fired tugs, as well as the difficult working conditions in the Great Lakes fishing trade.