Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Francis R. Anderson
- Type: Wooden fish tug
- Year Built: 1885
- Builder: Smith, Chicago, Illinois
- Dimensions: 95 ft (28.9 m) × 15.0 ft (4.6 m) × 6.2 ft (1.9 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 30.81 gross tons
- Location: Bayfield Harbor, Chequamegon Bay, Lake Superior
- Coordinates: N 46° 48.634′, W 090° 48.746′
- Official Number: 120621
- Original Owners: Booth Fisheries; Booth & Company; Booth Packing Company; A. Booth & Sons
- Number of Masts: N/A
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Francis R. Anderson was a wooden-hulled steam fish tug, designed for net setting, fish hauling, and transport in rough weather.
Description
The Francis R. Anderson was built in 1885 and originally measured 75.6 feet in length. By 1895, the vessel was lengthened to 95 feet. It served as part of the Booth Fisheries fleet, a significant player in the commercial fishing industry on the Great Lakes during the late 19th century.
History
By 1892, the Francis R. Anderson was transferred to Ashland, Wisconsin, and operated under Booth & Company. It was recorded under Booth Packing Company ownership by 1895. There are accounts of Captain Lindquist managing the vessel around 1889, although there is some uncertainty regarding the spelling of the name as Frances.
Significant Incidents
- Abandoned at dock around 1910, left to deteriorate.
Final Disposition
The tug was abandoned at Bayfield, Wisconsin, and left to deteriorate, eventually becoming buried beneath sand at the public beach area. The hull was not scuttled but succumbed to neglect.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The vessel remains buried beneath shoreline sediments at Bayfield, Wisconsin. No archaeological excavation has been conducted, and it is not accessible for diving.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”francis-r-anderson-us-120621″ title=”References & Links”]
The Francis R. Anderson serves as a reminder of the rich maritime history of the Great Lakes, despite its current state of neglect and burial beneath the sands of Bayfield beach.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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