Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Vixen
- Type: Wooden propeller tug/fish tug
- Year Built: 1886
- Builder: Hill
- Dimensions: 48 ft × 13 ft; 68 GRT / 53 NRT
- Registered Tonnage: 68 GRT / 53 NRT
- Location: Near Cockburn Island dock, North Channel, Lake Huron
- Official Number: C71228
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Vessel Type: Wooden propeller tug/fish tug
Description
The Vixen was a wooden propeller tug built in 1886, primarily serving as a fish tug operating out of Cockburn Island, Ontario. It was involved in towing fishing nets and assisting with small cargo duties.
History
The Vixen, launched in 1886, operated locally around Cockburn Island. In the winter season of 1916–17, she was lost due to foundering near the island’s dock. The loss was recorded by local authorities but received minimal press, possibly because it was expected in winter conditions. No detailed log or crew statement appears in archival sources.
Significant Incidents
- Winter 1916–17: The Vixen foundered and sank near Cockburn Island dock, likely overwhelmed by ice or storm damage. No crew was reported aboard at the time.
Final Disposition
The Vixen was declared a total loss; it sank near the dock and was not recovered. The wreck remains submerged near the site.
Current Condition & Accessibility
The sinking was noted by Cockburn Island records in 1917. No precise coordinates are documented, and no modern dive or archaeological surveys have identified the wreck. There are no navigational markers indicating her position, and the northern shores of Cockburn Island experience severe ice and winter conditions, necessitating caution for small-craft navigation.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”vixen-c-71228″ title=”References & Links”]
The Vixen was a small fish tug built in 1886, lost during the winter of 1916–17 when she foundered near the dock at Cockburn Island. Fortunately, no crew losses were reported. Her sinking reflects the harsh winter hazards common to North Channel maritime activity. Her wreck remains undiscovered and unmarked.
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: Vixen
Built: 1886 at Drummond Island, Michigan by builder Hill
Vessel Type: Wooden propeller tug/fish tug
Official Number: C71228
Dimensions: 48 ft × 13 ft; 68 GRT / 53 NRT
Usage: Served primarily as a fish tug operating out of Cockburn Island, Ontario
Final Loss Details
Date Lost: Winter 1916–17 (exact date unrecorded)
Location: Near Cockburn Island dock, North Channel, Lake Huron
Cause: Foundered and sank during winter—small craft likely overwhelmed by ice or storm damage
Crew & Casualties: None reported; no crew was noted to be aboard at the time according to records
History & Final Voyage
The Vixen, launched in 1886, operated locally around Cockburn Island—towing fishing nets and assisting with small cargo duties. In the winter season of 1916–17, she was lost due to foundering near the island’s dock. The loss was recorded by local authorities but received minimal press, possibly because it was expected in winter conditions. No detailed log or crew statement appears in archival sources.
(environment.gov.au, greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
Final Disposition
Declared a total loss; sunk near the dock and not recovered. The wreck remains submerged near the site.
Located By & Date Found
The sinking was noted by Cockburn Island records in 1917. No precise coordinates are documented, and no modern dive or archaeological surveys have identified the wreck.
Notmars & Advisories
No navigational markers indicate her position. The northern shores of Cockburn Island see severe ice and winter conditions; small-craft navigation should be cautious in these waters.
Resources & Links
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Files entry – Vixen loss near Cockburn Island, winter 1916–17 (oztreasure.weebly.com, greatlakesrex.wordpress.com)
Conclusion
Vixen was a small fish tug built in 1886, lost during the winter of 1916–17 when she foundered near the dock at Cockburn Island. Fortunately, no crew losses were reported. Her sinking reflects the harsh winter hazards common to North Channel maritime activity. Her wreck remains undiscovered and unmarked.