Identification & Site Information
- Name: Submerged Obstruction – Old Fishing Cribs
- Former Names: None
- Record Number: 2196 / OBJECTID 11928
- Date Built: Unknown (Pre-1964)
- Type: Submerged Crib (Likely fishing-related or structural)
- Chart Number: NOAA Chart 14815
- Location: Approx. 43.239561° N, -77.555664° W
Google Maps - Position Quality: Medium
- Position Source: Scaled
- Depth: 0.3 m (1 ft) above structure, with 3 m (10 ft) surrounding water
- Sounding Type: Not recorded
- Discovery Date: 1964
Vessel Type
Not a Vessel – Structural Obstruction
The listing refers to a “submerged crib”, historically used in marine construction and fishery operations.
Description
This structure is believed to be part of an old submerged wooden crib, likely linked to:
- A fishing operation
- A navigation or pier support crib
- Or a breakwater foundation
Cribs are timber-frame structures filled with rock or ballast and used to anchor docks, fish traps, or water intake systems. This one has a pile (likely wood or steel) rising 1 ft above it and sits in 10 feet (3 m) of surrounding water.
This object does not appear to pose an active navigational hazard but was recorded in NOAA’s system in 1964 as part of bottom charting.
History
The use of cribs in Lake Ontario near Rochester was common throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries for:
- Shoreline infrastructure (wharves, loading piers)
- Commercial fishery operations (trap nets, pound nets)
- Water intake or drainage systems (municipal or industrial)
Given the pile and its isolated location, it’s possible this was:
- A fish crib used in traditional Great Lakes fisheries
- A remnant of a small pier or net support system
- Part of navigation or lighthouse support work
There are no detailed records on who constructed it or when, but its appearance in 1964 survey data indicates it has been submerged for over half a century.
Final Disposition
Remains submerged and largely intact, based on recorded pile and surrounding crib form. No active maintenance or removal noted. It is preserved as an obstruction on NOAA charts.
Located By & Date Found
Charted during 1964 survey operations—not revisited by NOAA or sonar updates. Listed based on scaling from historical records rather than direct GPS.
Notmars & Advisories
Not listed as a navigational hazard in current U.S. Coast Guard or Canadian NOTMARs. Still charted on NOAA nautical maps.
Resources & Links
- NOAA Wrecks Database
- Google Maps – Submerged Crib Location
- Historical Fisheries Info – NY DEC Archives
Conclusion
This submerged crib structure, located off Rochester, NY, is likely a historic fisheries or shoreline construction element from the late 19th or early 20th century. Such cribs were essential to pier building and fish trap installations in the Great Lakes. Its enduring presence reflects the area’s maritime and industrial past. Though not a shipwreck, it adds to the underwater cultural landscape of Lake Ontario’s nearshore heritage.
Keywords: Fishing Crib, Rochester Lake Ontario, Submerged Structure, Maritime Infrastructure, NOAA Chart 14815
Categories: Obstructions, Underwater Cultural Heritage, Fishing History
Glossary Terms:
- Crib: A framed wooden structure filled with rocks or ballast, used to anchor marine constructions.
- Pile: A long post driven into the seabed, often part of docks or structural supports.
- Scaled Position: An estimated location derived from chart features, not GPS.