Any archaeological fieldwork in Ontario (including sidescan survey) requires a license issued under the Ontario Heritage Act.
(for the proposed survey near Caribou Island).

Mark and Unmark Shoals found and verfied
by two Hydrographic Services

No fee is attached to the one-year license but at the end of each dive
season a report must be submitted entailing the work completed.

Contravention of the Act by an individual yields a fine of not more
than $50,000, one year imprisonment, or both; contravention by a
corporation yields a fine of not more than $250,000.

Six-Fathom Shoal Updates

During a taped conversation with his office, which was made a part of the record, the ANDERSON’s master stated that the FITZGERALD "passed right over that 6-fathom spot." The Canadian Hydrographic Service survey shows the water depth at this charted "6- fathom spot". If the FITZGERALD, whose draft was more than 27 feet, had passed through this position on a course plan later that day of 141 T the vessel would have had to pass over the north tip of Caribou Island and through an area where the depth is less than 21 feet.

During a taped conversation with his office, which was made a part of the record, the ANDERSON’s master stated that the FITZGERALD "passed right over that 6-fathom spot."
Listen

"Revise Lake Survey Chart No. 9 showing the areas between Michipicoten Island and Caribou Island in Lake Superior to reflect the findings of the survey performed by the Canadian Hydrographic Service. (Class II, Priority Action) 01—78—33)

S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald Draft Marks = 1" = 135 Tons per inch of draft
6" Repainted draft mark = 810 tons of taconite ore
Zug Island VIDEO

Weight of one Taconite pellet = .009 lbs.
1 - US Cup full of Taconite pellets holds = 150 count.
1 - US Cup full of Taconite pellets weight = 1,35 lbs.
1 - US Cup full of Taconite pellets holds 1/3 cup of water in void spaces.
Typ. Size of one Taconite pellets is = 1/2" Dia.
112 Count of Taconite pellets has a weight of 1 Lbs

Six-Fathom Shoal Updates

Perhaps the most widely accepted of the four theories about the loss of the Fitzgerald is that the ship crossed Caribou Island’s Six-Fathom Shoal, which is located off the north end of the island with water as shallow as 26.5 feet. This contact or a near contact could damage the hull plate and allow water to begin accumulating inside the affected port side ballast tanks. Significantly, within a few minutes of passing the mark and unmarked shoals, the Fitzgerald Captain Ernest McSorley reported a port list, missing vents and a fence rail down. Beyond that, Captain “Bernie” Cooper and Morgan Clark of the Anderson commented that his radar showed the -
"Fitzgerald to be closer to the shoal than he wanted his ship to be".

Link to chart of White Fish Bay area

Hydrography is the science that deals with the measurement and description of the physical features of bodies of water and their littoral land areas.

Anderson Captain and mates knows what happen that day

Audio

Probable Trackline
Michipicoten - Caribou Island - Copper Mine Point - White Fish Bay
Weather charts - Radio reports - Interviews may help retrack Fitz probable trackline

Meters to Feet and Fathoms
1 Meter = 3.280 Feet or 0.546 Fathoms
1 Fathoms = 6 Feet or 1.828 Meters

Michigan is a state in the United States. The name is derived from Lake Michigan, which in turn is believed to come from the Chippewa Indian word meicigama, meaning "great water."

Bounded by four of the Great Lakes, Michigan has the longest freshwater shoreline in the continental United States.

Special Thanks NOAA
The Edmund Fitzgerald Rest .0555 Statue Miles - .4392 Nautical Miles -
2669 Feet - 889.74 Yards from the US / Canada line.

Six-Fathom Shoal Updates

Perhaps the most widely accepted of the four theories about the loss of the Fitzgerald is that the ship crossed Caribou Island’s Six-Fathom Shoal, which is located off the north end of the island with water as shallow as 26.5 feet. This contact or a near contact could damage the hull plate and allow water to begin accumulating inside the affected port side ballast tanks. Significantly, within a few minutes of passing the mark and unmarked shoals, the Fitzgerald Captain Ernest McSorley reported a port list, missing vents and a fence rail down. Beyond that, Captain “Bernie” Cooper and Morgan Clark of the Anderson commented that his radar showed the -
"Fitzgerald to be closer to the shoal than he wanted his ship to be".

Mark and Unmark Shoals found and verfied by two Hydrographic Services
May 19 to July 8, 1976

Check water levels today for Michipicoten Canada

The Bayfield is over the shoals 1976
The Bayfield servey indicated the shoals extends one mile further east than indicated on
Canadian chart 2310.

Central and Arctic Region Canadian Hydrographic Service Bayfield Institute Canada Centre for Inland Waters 867 Lakeshore Road Burlington, Ontario L7R 4A6 Tel: (905) 336-4811 Toll-free (877) 247-5465 Fax: (905) 336-8916

Before 1883 all hydrographic work in Canada was carried out by the British Admiralty under an arrangement whereby, after Confederation, Canada was assessed with half the cost. We have already made a brief mention of Admiral Bayfield who, as Admiralty Surveyor, had spent forty years in the making of Canadian charts before his retirement in 1856. There were few sections along the principal shipping routes from Halifax to the Lakehead which had not been charted under his personal supervision, and "Bayfield Charts" were highly valued by the shipmasters of the day. In course of time, with the increase in numbers and size of steamer traffic on the Great Lakes, the Bayfield charts became inadequate and out of date and, in the late seventies, the Department of Marine and Fisheries began to receive complaints.

Left Columbia Transportation Division Survey - Right Canadian Hydrographic Service Survey

Columbia Transportation Division, the operator of the FITZGERALD, conducted an independent hydrographic survey of the shoal area north of Caribou Island. Water depths were determined by sonic devices, lead line, and direct measurement by divers. The results of this survey show water depths that vary slightly from the Canadian survey. These differences can be attributed to the rocks and boulders on the bottom and the various tracklines on which soundings were recorded.

Just like the Anderson Captain and Mates reported

....

Why did the Facts change only one time, only in the Official Report?
Phone Transmissions from Captain to Office
Hear what was said the next day after the lost -
Coast Guard as filed
Listen

The Canadian Hydrographic Service survey shows the water depth at this charted "6-fathom spot" is 52 meters (28.4 fathoms). If the FITZGERALD, whose draft was more than
27 feet, had passed through this position on a course of 141 T the vessel would have had to pass within 3/4 of a mile of the north tip of Caribou Island and through an area where the depth is less than 21 feet.

Probable Trackline

View video of the last trip

"The position of FITZGERALD relative to that of ANDERSON cannot be reconstructed. Information available is based on the recollections of the Master and Watch Officers on ANDERSON, since the relative position of FITZGERALD was observed intermittently on the radar, but not recorded. Testimony on these observations is inconsistent.

Despite many people accepting this as the most likely scenario for the sudden list and deck damage, the photographic evidence for such a grounding may exist. Every expedition to the freighter has reported that there is some scraping, gouging or damage to the rudder or propeller, which should show on the overturned bottom of the stern. Diving expeditions on the shoals soon may find new evidence of groundings by a ship.