Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Grayling
- Type: Steam tug / fish tug
- Year Built: 1876
- Builder: Carroll Brothers
- Dimensions: Length 54 ft (16.46 m); Beam 13.5 ft (4.11 m); Depth of hold 5 ft (1.52 m)
- Registered Tonnage: 17.25 tons
- Location: Offshore Milwaukee, WI
- Coordinates: Unknown exact sinking coordinates – scuttled offshore in September 1936
- Official Number: 85444
- Original Owners: Charles M. Anderson (primary documented owner)
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
The Grayling is classified as a steam tug and fish tug, primarily constructed of wood.
Description
The Grayling was a wooden steam fish tug built in 1876 by the Carroll Brothers in Buffalo, New York. It measured 54 feet in length, 13.5 feet in beam, and had a depth of hold of 5 feet. The vessel was primarily used for commercial fishing operations across Lake Michigan.
History
The Grayling served for 60 years, primarily supporting commercial fishing operations. After its construction in 1876, it operated out of Frankfort, Michigan, performing fishing and light harbor duties. By the 1930s, the vessel was considered obsolete due to its aging wooden construction and small steam engine.
Significant Incidents
- c. 1935: Abandoned in the Sheboygan River near Sheboygan, WI.
- May 1936: Towed to Milwaukee and sunk temporarily near the Holton Street Bridge in the Milwaukee River.
- 20 September 1936: Officially scuttled in Lake Michigan by the U.S. Coast Guard, offshore Milwaukee, as part of harbor clearance operations.
Final Disposition
The Grayling was scuttled in stages, first being abandoned in the Sheboygan River, then temporarily sunk in the Milwaukee River, and finally officially scuttled in Lake Michigan. The exact offshore scuttling site has not been archaeologically verified.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The current status of the Grayling is unlocated. The coordinates of the scuttling site are approximate, and a side-scan sonar search is required for further investigation. Wooden tugs of this era typically collapse rapidly after scuttling, though some components like the engine, boiler, and iron fastenings may survive in the debris field.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”grayling-us-85444″ title=”References & Links”]
The Grayling represents a significant part of the commercial fishing history on the Great Lakes, showcasing the long-lived era of small wooden fish tugs that served the industry for decades.
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