Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2015 All Rights Reserved USGenNet Data Repository Please read USGenNet Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ =========================================================================== Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== (note: while some formatting changes were necessary to transcribe this document the content remains entirely as written in the official report.) From: Marine Board of Investigation To: Commandant (G-MMI) Subj: S. S. EDMUND FITZGERALD, O. N. 277437; sinking in Lake Superior on 10 November 1975, with loss of life FINDINGS OF FACT (continued) ---------------- 16. Hydrographic Survey ------------------- Testimony of the Master and Watch Officers of ANDERSON indicated that FITZGERALD had passed near the shoals north 85 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- of Caribou Island. Charts of the area, U. S. Chart L.S. 9 (September 1973) and Canadian Chart 2310 (1972) showed a least sounding in this area, denoted "North Bank" on Chart 2310, of 6 fathoms. Chart 2310 indicates that the soundings are based on surveys of the Canadian Hydrographic Service in 1916 and 1919, while Chart L.S. 9 contains a notation: "Canadian Areas. For data concerning Canadian areas, Canadian authorities have been consulted." Following the taking of testimony and review of the charts, the Marine Board requested, through the Commander of the Ninth Coast Guard District, that Canadian authorities conduct a hydro- graphic survey of the area north of Caribou Island. The hydrographic survey, Canadian Hydrographic Service, Central Region, Project 76-2, was performed by CSS BAYFIELD during the period 19 May - 8 July 1976 and 7 August - 30 September 1976. The area surveyed included the waters between Michipicoten Island and Caribou Island and all around Caribou Island and adjacent waters between 47°10'N and 47°45'N and between 85°33'W and 86°11'W. Soundings were obtained using an ATLAS DESO 10 Echo Sounder and horizontal positioning was obtained using a three-station Minifix system. Results were reduced to a datum of 182.88 meters (599.85 feet) above the International, Great Lakes Datum (IGLD) and plotted on Field Sheet 3908 (F.S. 3908), with soundings in meters. Chart L. S. 9 is plotted to a datum of 600.0 feet above IGLD, thus there is a difference of 0.15 feet between L.S. 9 and F.S. 3908. Canadian Chart 2310 is plotted to a datum based upon Mean Sea Level, and this datum is 0.53 feet above the datum used in plotting the BAYFIELD data on F.S. 3908. Figure (12) (p. 88) is a replica of a portion of F.S. 3908 which includes the waters surrounding Caribou Island and the shoals to the north of it. L.S. 9 shows the 6 fathom (10.9 meters) sounding at 47°26.7'N, 85°50.8'W, while 2310 shows 6 fathoms at 47°26.8'N, 85°50.3'W. Analysis of F.S. 3908, Figure (12), shows two loca- tions with soundings of 6 fathoms (10.9 meters) or less. These have been marked [1] and [2] on Figure (12). 86 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- [1] 47°26.8'N, 85°50.2'W 9.5 m (5.2 fathoms) [2] 47°26.8'N, 85°48.7'W 9.7 m (5.3 fathoms) Position [2] is slightly more than one mile due east of position [1] and Chart 2310 indicates soundings adjacent to this location of 8 and 9 fathoms. F.S. 3908 shows two other soundings of less than six fathoms (10.9 meters) due north of and immediately adjacent to Caribou Island. These are marked [3] and [4] on Figure (12). [3] 47°25.4'N, 85°48.6'W 9.7 meters (5.3 fathoms) [4] 47°24.6'N, 85°47.6'W 7.5 meters (4.1 fathoms) (Chart 2310 shows 4-1/2 fathoms at 47°24.5'N, 85°47.7'W.) 87 ===========================================================================