Shotline Diving

Connecting You to the Depths of the Great Lakes

Grayling US 85444

Explore the remains of the Grayling, a historic steam tug scuttled in Lake Michigan, representing the era of wooden fish tugs in the Great Lakes.

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.

Legacy Notes & Full Historical Record

This section preserves the original unedited Shotline content for this wreck so that no historical detail is lost as we transition to the new logbook format.

Identification & Site Information

  • Name: Grayling
  • Former Names: None recorded
  • Official Number / Registry: 85444
  • Year Built: 1876
  • Builder: Carroll Brothers, Buffalo, New York
  • Vessel Type: Steam tug / fish tug
  • Hull Material: Wood
  • Dimensions:
    • Length: 54 ft (16.46 m)
    • Beam: 13.5 ft (4.11 m)
    • Depth of Hold: 5 ft (1.52 m)
  • Gross Tonnage: 17.25 tons
  • Propulsion: Steam screw
  • Number of Masts: 0
  • Home Port: Frankfort, Michigan (original)
  • Owners: Charles M. Anderson (primary documented owner)

Location of Loss:

  • Body of Water: Lake Michigan (off Milwaukee)
  • County: Milwaukee, WI
  • Nearest City: Milwaukee, WI
  • Coordinates: Unknown exact sinking coordinates – scuttled offshore in September 1936
  • Depth: Unconfirmed; likely 20–50 ft range for shallow scuttling

Service History

The wooden steam fish tug Grayling served for 60 years across Lake Michigan, primarily supporting commercial fishing operations:

  • 1876: Built by Carroll Brothers, Buffalo, NY
  • Late 19th Century: Operated out of Frankfort, MI, performing fishing and light harbor duties
  • Registry: U.S. 85444
  • Early 20th Century: Likely worked along the Michigan and Wisconsin shorelines, used as a fish tug and harbor service vessel

By the 1930s, she was considered obsolete, with aging wooden construction and a small steam engine unsuited for modernization.

Final Voyage & Disposition

The final disposition of Grayling took place in stages:

  • 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
    • Reason: Vessel abandonment and hazard removal under harbor clearance operations
    • Casualties: 0

The exact offshore scuttling site has not been archaeologically verified, and no diver documentation exists in public archives.

Located By & Wreck Condition

  • Current Status: Unlocated
  • Coordinates: Approximate offshore Milwaukee; requires side‑scan sonar search
  • Condition:
    • Wooden tugs of this era usually collapse rapidly after scuttling
    • Possible engine, boiler, and iron fastenings may survive in debris field

Research Notes

  • Primary archival leads:
    • U.S. Coast Guard Milwaukee records, 1936 – possible scuttling log
    • Milwaukee Harbor Master records, 1935–36 – Holton Street Bridge temporary sink site
    • Wisconsin Historical Society – fish tug service history
  • Potential for discovery:
    • Likely in nearshore Lake Michigan along historic disposal lanes
    • May require magnetometer and shallow side‑scan sonar survey

Resources & References

Historical Significance

The Grayling represents the long-lived era of small wooden fish tugs on the Great Lakes. These compact steam vessels were the workhorses of the commercial fishing industry, often serving 50–60 years before scuttling.

Her three-stage abandonment—first in Sheboygan, then Milwaukee River, and finally Lake Michigan—reflects the common practice of phased disposal, where old tugs were repurposed as dockside storage, sunk as fill, and finally scuttled offshore to clear urban waterways.

grayling-us-85444 1935-09-20 23:10:00