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.

Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: Tiger
• Registry: Canadian
• Official Number: Not listed
• Builder: George Tate
• Place of Construction: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
• Year Built: 1863
• Length: 32.55 m (106.83 ft)
• Tonnage: 202.45 tons (register)
• Cargo Capacity: 13,000 bushels
• Design: Round stern; unrigged (no masts)
• Final Location: Kingston Inner Harbour, Ontario

Vessel Type

Tiger was a wooden, mastless river barge designed for grain and bulk cargo transport in the St. Lawrence–Great Lakes trade network. It was built with a round stern and lacked rigging, typical of the unpowered barges towed by steamers during the period.

Description

With its sturdy timber construction and grain capacity of over 13,000 bushels, Tiger was optimized for bulk commodity transport, most commonly used in connection with elevators and forwarding companies. Like many barges of the era, it relied on steam tugs for mobility and lacked independent propulsion.

History

Launched in 1863, Tiger operated for over 30 years. Originally owned by its builder George Tate, it passed through several hands:

• Holcomb & Cowan (date unknown)
• J.H. Henderson (date unknown)
• St. Lawrence & Chicago Forwarding Co. (Coulthurst & McPhee)
• Later absorbed into the Montreal Transportation Company fleet

The barge underwent major repairs in 1875 and 1878. However, its condition gradually declined, reflected in its insurance and classification records:

• 1866: Rated “1”, valued at $3,000
• 1878: Rated “2”, value $3,500
• 1884: Downgraded to B1½
• 1885: Declared uninsurable
• 1887: Rated suitable only for coarse freight

These changes mirror the degradation common in wooden barges approaching obsolescence by the late 19th century.

Final Disposition

In 1891, Tiger was deliberately set on fire—an act of suspected arson—while laid up near the Kingston Cotton Mill. The Kingston Whig described her as “rotten” at the time, indicating a derelict state. Following the fire, the vessel was broken up. Its registration was officially closed on April 27, 1899.

Located By & Date Found

Tiger was not lost by accident or disaster and therefore has no rediscovery date. There is no modern wreck site associated with the vessel, as it was broken up and dismantled onshore.

Notmars & Advisories

None applicable — the wreck no longer exists as a submerged site.

Resources & Links

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes
• Canadian Heritage Ship Information Database (internal access only)
• Local newspapers including The Kingston Whig

Conclusion

The Tiger exemplifies the lifespan of unpowered grain barges on the Great Lakes — from valued cargo workhorses to derelict hulks by the century’s end. Its destruction by arson underscores the neglect and vulnerability of aging wooden freighters as steel hulls and mechanical propulsion became the standard. While no physical wreck remains today, Tiger remains a documented part of Kingston’s industrial and maritime past.

Keywords, Categories, Glossary Terms

Barge, grain cargo, St. Lawrence River, Great Lakes trade, 19th century shipping, Montreal-built vessels, Kingston harbour, arson, wooden hull

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