[From the U.S. Government Printing Office, www.gpo.gov]







                       Bottornland Surveys of
                             East Moran Bay
                                       and
                       Mackinac Island Harbor









                                   Final Report







                                  February 10, 1992









                              Bottomiand Surveys of
                                      East Moran Bay
                                                   and
                             Mackinac Island Harbor









                                             Final Report




      0-4


                                           February 10, 1992


                                This document was prepared in part through financial
                                assistance provided by the Office of Ocean and
                                Coastal Resource Management, National Oceanic
                                and Atmospheric Administration authorized by
                                the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972.

















          This is a project of:


                         Michigan Underwater Preserve Council, Inc.
                                       11 S. State St.
                                    St. Ignace, MI 49781

















          This project was funded in part with a grant from the Coastal Zone
          Management Program, which is administered by the Michigan Department
          of Natural Resources. It was conducted by volunteer sport divers and
          Maritime Research Associates, Inc., 290 Gorman Road, St. Ignace, MI
          49781.










                 Contents




                 Executive Summary               ................................................................................2

                 Ust of Recommendations                    .......................................................................3


                 Background          ..............................................................................................4

                 Side Scan Sonar Survey                   ....................................................................... 11

                 Diver Access          ......................................................................................... 21

                 Findings       .................................................................................................. 23

                 Recommendations                ................................................................................. 24


                 Appendix'I - Volunteer Diver Report                        ................................................  ... 27

                 Appendix 2 - Diver Access Sign Text                          .................................................. 35

                 Appendix 3 - Anchor Ufting Memo and Response                                      ........................... 36

                 Appendix 4 - Archaeology Overview                          ................................................... 40








             Executive-- Summary



             East Moran Bay and Mackinac Island Harbor have been the focus of Native American and
             European activities for centuries. These sites, because of the their location at the Straits of
             Mackinac, were important in the early exploration and settling of the region by Europeans.
             Native Americans were known to have used these sites for farming, hunting, fishing, and
             gathering.

             'Me length and nature of human activity associated with the bay and harbor made it likely
             that many small but significant artifacts would be found on the bottomlands. Also, planned
             development activities could potentially threatened such artifacts. To understand the scope
             and nature of the artifacts involved, a project was designed and implemented by the Michigan
             Underwater Preserve Council and funded by the Coastal Zone Management Program, which is
             administered by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

             The project involved a side scan sonar survey of the bay and harbor. Important targets were
             identified and volunteer sport divers trained in basic underwater archaeological techniques
             investigated.

             The project resulted in mosaic side scan images of the bay and harbor as well as detailed
             information about important portions of both. During this project many small artifacts were
             located but none were removed from the bottomland. Also, a small, unknown shipwreck was
             discovered in Mackinac Island Harbor.


             Another component of this project was the development of a shore-access dive site for sport
             divers visiting the Straits of Mackinac Area Underwater Preserve. Development of this sites
             involved an extensive survey by volunteer sport divers and erection of an interpretive sign.

             Recommendations for further investigations and management of these two sites were
             developed.








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           List of Recommendations





           The complete list of recommendations and an explanation is found later in this report.
           Recommendations are listed here to provide information about the results of the project.

           e The East Moran Bay and Mackinac Island Harbor bottomlands host a wealth of
                 artifacts that could provide valuable information about cultural development
                 of the region.

           a East Moran Bay and Mackinac Island Harbor should be the focus of an intensive
                 underwater archaeological survey to discover and preserve important
                 artifacts.


           e The history of the St. Ignace area should be researched and published.

           e East Moran Bay and Mackinac Island Harbor should be considered historic sites.

           o Sport divers visiting East Moran Bay and Mackinac Island Harbor should be
                 educated about the prohibitions of removing or damaging artifacts.

           e The East Moran Bay shore access site should be considered as a receptacle for
                 large artifacts to enhance sport diving.

           - Sport divers should be encouraged to avoid high-traffic areas of East Moran Bay
                 and Mackinac Island Harbor.











           Maritime Research Associates, Inc.      3







                                 Bottomland Surveys of
                                         East Moran Bay
                                                       and
                                Mackinac Island Harbor





            Background



            East Moran Bay and Mackinac Island Harbor are the sites of much prehistoric and historic
            human activity. They are the focal points for much of the exploration and colonialization of
            the Midwest. The focus and nature of this activity made it probable that the bottomlands of
            these areas contain important artifacts.

            Both areas are popular tourist destinations and extensive development in the area is either
            underway or planned for the near future. Thus, an understanding of the number and type of
            submerged cultural resources in these areas was vital in order to protect them from
            degradation and/or destruction.

            Two main initiatives were undertaken in order to learn more about these submerged cultural
           -resources. One involved side scan sonar to survey the bottom and locate "targets." Because
            of the nature of this technology, only relatively large, "solid" objects can be located.

            The other initiative used data obtained from the side scan sonar survey and teams of trained
            volunteer sport divers to investigate suspected "high yield" areas.





            Maritime Research Associates, Inc.            4









            Historical Information


            It is difficult to appreciate the potential significance of artifacts discovered on the East Moran
            Bay and Mackinac Island Harbor bottomlands without an understanding of the history of the
            region. One of the best overviews of the history and archaeology of the region is provided by
            John R. Halsey, Ph.D., state archaeologist with the Bureau of History, Michigan Department
            of State. The following article about the history of the region is taken from the publication,
            Diving Into St. Ignace Past. An Underwater Investigation of East Moran Bay.

                                          History of the St. Ignace Area
                                                  By John Halsey

            East Moran Bay fronts one of the most historic settlements in Michigan. St. Ignace was
            settled in 1671 as a mission site by Father Jacques Marquette. It is the second-oldest Euro-
            American settlement in the state.


            But Marquette's mission does not define the earliest human settlement of the St. Ignace area.
            The first occupation could have occurred as early as 10,000 years ago when glaciers lay only
            a short distance north. Lakes Michigan and Huron dropped several hundred feet below their
            current levels. The Straits of Mackinac were reduced to a broad river connecting two
            shrunken lakes in the Michigan and Huron basins.

            As the glacial ice retreated north, the land rebounded and closed lower drainage outlets and
            the lakes rose to higher levels than known today. These higher levels created the distinctive
            terraces visible on Mackinac Island across the bay. Many lake levels represented by
            submerged beaches were of sufficient duration to allow the formation of deep soils and the
            growth of mature forests before they were flooded.

            The earliest known prehistoric upland sites in the Straits of Mackinac area are contemporary
            with the final stages of the stabilization of lake levels four to six thousand years ago.
            Archaeologists refer to this period as the Late Archaic. There is more evidence, however, of
            occupation from the Middle Woodland period, about 0 A.D. There is also evidence of large
            fishing villages from the Late Woodland period from A.D. 750 until European contact.

            Ile Straits area was the most important crossroads in the Great Lakes area in the late 1600s.
            St. Ignace is reported to have had a population of more than 6,000--far more than today
           -(approximately 2,500).

            The last half of the 1600s is represented by a remarkable collection of important sites: Native
            American and European villages, burial sites, French forts and missions. Several of these
            sites are located not on the north shore of the Straits where the bridge comes ashore, but
            "around the comer"--on the shores of East Moran Bay.

            The most important site is the village site of the Tionontate Huron, a refugee group that fled

            Maritime Research Associates, Inc.            5








             their homeland in southwestern Ontario in A.D. 1650 when they were attacked by the
             Iroquois. Ibis village was also the site of Father Marquette's mission, although five seasons
             of excavations around the present museum have not discovered the mission structure itself.

             Near the village were fields of corn, beans and squash, planted by the Tionontate and local
             Ottawa groups. Fishing in the bay and hunting in the surrounding forests supplemented
             agricultural endeavors.

             The norther side of the Straits was largely abandoned for most of the 1700s and much of the
             Native American population resettled at Fort Pontchartrain in Detroit.

             French occupation of the area in the 1800s created a settlement patter of long, narrow lots
             called "ribbon farms." This style of land division assured all settlers access to the waterfront
             as well as enough land for farming, pasture and wood supplies. This style is also seen in
             Detroit, Monroe and a few other areas of colonial French settlement in Michigan.

             In the middle to late 1800s, St. Ignace grew and developed a diverse economy. Insurance
             maps of the time show a waterfront with saw mills, docks, warehouses, ice houses, hotels and
             saloons. Between 1880 and 1890, St. Ignace became the logical norther link in the rail/ferTy
             network joining the upper and lower peninsulas.

             There was also a tourist industry for those wanting to enjoy the hay fever-free climate and
             scenic Mackinac Island, which was a national park from 1875 to 1895. Tourist ferry docks
             were at several locations, as they are today. The building of the Martel Iron Furnace south of
             the main village established St. Ignace as a local ironworking center and, later, the village
             became a flourishing logging and lumber center.

             The lumbering industry prospered until about 1900 and then declined. 'Me fishing industry
             could not pick up the economic slack caused by the loss of lumbering jobs and the
             community looked at its tourism potential.

             Auto ferry service began in St. Ignace in 1923, but the Straits, an artery of transportation,
             became an obstacle. Many people who lived in Michigan in the 1940s and 1950s, especially
             deer hunters from the Lower Peninsula, sat in long lines waiting for ferries to cross. There
             had been a dream of a bridge across the four miles of water since at least the 1880s. Traffic
             congestion on both sides led to a serious demand for a bridge in the 1930s. Favorable
            -legislation and strong political leadership made the bridge a reality. Construction began in
             1954 and the bridge was completed in 1957. The land east of the survey area was used as an
             equipment and material storage area during bridge construction.

             The opening of "Mighty Mac," with the development of the interstate highway system, has
             made Upper Peninsula access easy. The opening also initiated the latest phase in the 300-
             year history of St. Ignace.



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             The bridge has allowed a regular flow of visitors into the northland on a year-round basis and
             fueled the enormous growth of tourist facilities in the north and south portions of St. Ignace.
             Redevelopment of the downtown and waterfront areas and fleets of ferries to Mackinac Island
             are part of the new era.

             Snowinobiling and ice fishing attract tourists in the winter. In summer, the Father Marquette
             Museum and National Memorial and the Marquette Mission Park and Museum of Ojibwa
             Culture interpret the early history of the area.

             Now, a new breed of visitors has arrived. They seek more than the history presented in
             museums. They come to experience the shipwrecks and other physical remains of the
             maritime past. They are sport divers.

             There are few other sources of historical information about the St. Ignace ama. In 1957,
             however, the Kiwanis Club of St. Ignace published a brief history entitled Before the Bridge.
             That volume details the lumbering era, various forts and missions that were important in
             development of the region. For the purposes of this report the most relevant accounts are
             those relating directly to maritime heritage. The following accounts are taken from Before
             the Bridge.

                                            Transportation Over the Years


                                              First Route to These Shores


             The migration of early days, and the manner of living as well, were largely determined by the
             facilities and limitations of travel. 'Me first people here, the Indians, relied on canoes and
             water routes for the most part. Movement across land was along the rivers or inland lakes, or
             on narrow trails by foot, snowshoe or dog sled.

             The traders, explorers and missionaries, mainly French, who began to appear here before the
             middle of the 17th century, travelled the Indian routes and used their means of conveyance.
             Coming up the St. Lawrence River, they took the long Ottawa River to the Mattawa stream
             which they followed, then cross Lake Nipissing, went down the French River to Georgian
             Bay and arrived at the shores of upper Lake Huron.

             This route of about one thousand miles was used for many years for the fur traffic, as the
             -most direct from Montreal. It also by-passed the hostile Iroquois Indians, who controlled the
             lake region to the south. On this journey, there were troublesome rapids and about a dozen
             portages, the longest being about six miles between Lake Nipissing and the Ottawa River,
             known as the Mattawa Portage.






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                                                       Canoes


            Canoes served for transporting furs and supplies for more than one hundred years. As made
            by the Chippewa Indians--the natives of the Upper Peninsula--there was no superior canoe
            craft. Skillfully, they took birch bark strippings a quarter of an inch thick, ingeniously shaped
            and sewed with roots of the tamarack tree (or the inside bark of the basswood tree, after it
            was properly treatedj, called "wat-taps" (Ottawas used fibres of spruce), making them
            watertight by pouring hot pine pitch over the searns. Ile bark thus sewed together was
            stretched over thin ribs and cross-bars of cedar. Between the ribs and the bark, thin pieces of
            cedar were placed to help strengthen the canoe. The finished product was east to maneuver,
            and, of course, was handled expertly by an Indian with his paddle. The large sizes were
            thirty to forty feet long, called bateaux (pl. of bateau), and could convey four tons of furs,
            while the largest of these boats was light enough to be carried by four men across portages.
            The cargoes also had to be carried on the back of the boatmen. Fleets of these canoe
            caravans plied back and forth from Montreal, traveling as far as forty miles in one day. 'Me
            French introduced oars and the use of sails to aid moving their heavy cargoes of furs and
            supplies.

            It seems incredible that a light birch bark craft, seemingly entirely inadequate, served as the
            early transportation of a gigantic empire built by the fur industry extending over thousands of
            square miles. The work of the boatmen, the French voyageurs, with help from the Indians,
            was a marvelous part of the operation of this vast enterprise. Working from dawn to sunset,
            without protection from the elements, having to load and unload heavy cargoes each night and
            carry the precious furs and supplies across portages, called for a rugged man almost beyond
            understanding. Merely to endure the hardships of their life would and their travels would be
            sufficient, without the almost superhuman strength required to perform their tasks.

                                                   Wooden Boats


            The canoe, of course, was designed primarily to skirt the shore, and follow the rivers, and
            was used on the deep waters only under the most favorable conditions. It can hardly be
            conceived that early explorers and missionaries like Nicollet or Marquette went through the
            Straits or followed the navigation routes with this frail craft. Because of the need of a more
            stable means of travel with the development of lake traffic, wooden boats, some with a sail or
           -tow, gradually came into use. By 1800, about the time that fur trading reached its peak as a
            an organized and centralized industry, wooden boats were common. Most of them were a
            small type, but it was in these boats that a large number of the first permanent settlers--the
            great-great-grandparents of some of today's residents--came to the shores of East and West
            Moran bays.

            Gradually, the stronger and larger boats replaced the light. birch bark canoes as wooden craft,
            for use in fishing as well as for the fur trade, the wind supplied power, with oars


            Maritime Research Associates, Inc.            8








            supplementary. Few of the larger wooden ships came until after 1800, party because the
            through lake traffic had not developed. Sailing vessels began to appear after that date,
            replacing in part the old established method of transporting furs, and an occasional supply
            vessel found its way up here from Buffalo.

                                                 Mackinaw Boats


            Early wooden boats of a flat bottom type used in this area became known as the Mackinaw
            boats. Ile Cheniers, who settled here about 1830, began a boat-building business improving
            on the older Mackinaw. models. Chenier was the designer and developed what is regarded as
            the true Mackinaw boats. The Chenier boats had two masts with sails, were round bottomed
            with a centerboard and pointed at both ends. (The centerboard was a development about
            1812, a dagger board being used prior thereto.) They were constructed to handle nets and
            large catches of fish in deep and rough waters when weather conditions were not too severe.

            The Cheniers met with considerable success and later supplied the Government wit their
            product for use by lighthouse keepers. About 1845, the had become well established on the
            beach at what would be the vicinity of 1170 North State Street, in St. Ignace. ***

            The Mackinaw boats were built until 1915. *** After that, younger members of the family
            made smaller boats for about 20 years.

                                                  Sailing Vessels

            After 1800, the sailing vessel, both large and small, was the chief means of water travel for
            many years, until the steamboat gradually came into the navigation picture. The first to reach
            these waters was Walk-in-die-Water, built in Buffalo, coming here in 1819. While it was a
            significant forerunner of futum development, it was some time later before steamboats came
            into general use.

                                                    Steamboats


            In 1820, there were only four steamers on all the Great Lakes, and only ten were built in the
            next ten years. Production increased rapidly, however, between 1830 and 1850. In 1830,
            there were only occasional clearances from Lake Erie ports and Detroit to Mackinac, but the
            tempo increased rapidly after that date. The fare from Mackinac to Buffalo in 1840 was
           -cabin, $16; steerage, $8. Horses were shipped at $10 each. Traffic increased noticeably after
            1846 when land was opened up for settlers.

            Originally, wood was used for fuel. A principal fueling place was St. Helena Island on the
            Lake Michigan side of the Straits. About 1850, this island became a thriving village and port
            for the shipment of fish and for receiving supplies -- a haven for sailing vessels as well as
            supply boats propelled in whole or part by steam. Early residents, including those from Gros
            Cap, hauled wood on the ice in the wintertime to be used when navigation opened.


            Maritime Research Associates, Inc.           9














                                               Steamboats--Railroad


            Stearn propelled ships were developed rapidly, so that by the Civil War Time large sized
            boats were operating on the Lakes. Coal became generally used as time went on. Docks
            were built in St. Ignace to accommodate the heavy freight traffic. Lake steamers began to
            find their way here, and in the 1870s, fast passenger service became available. These travel
            facilities, plus the building of roads and settling of the country to the south of us, spelled a
            new migration. While the lake boats brought in most of the early arrivals, development and
            migration were speeded up when a railroad connection between St. Ignace and the Lower
            Peninsula was established in 1881. This was an important development for those interested in
            the lumber and mineral resources of the Northland.


            Here a lumber boom began, and it meant that St. Ignace was to be changed from a wagon
            trail village to an organized and regulated community.

            The author(s) of Before the Bridge cover the French era of the region in great detail. Perhaps
            the most intriguing maritime aspect of French activity is the arrival of the famed Griffon, the
            first sailing vessel on the Great Lakes. Built by the French explorer LaSalle, the vessel
            visited St. Ignace in 1679 where LaSalle celebrated mass. Father Hennepin offered this
            account:


                   As we came out from the service, we gazed with pleasure at the Griffon, our
                   large, well-equipped vessel lying at anchor in the cove. A hundred to a
                   hundred and twenty bark canoes were going to, or coming from the fisheries
                   where the Indians take whitefish, without which they could not subsist. They
                   catch them in nets, sometimes in fifteen or twenty fathoms of water.

                   The Huron Village, which is surrounded by a stockade twenty feet high, is
                   situated near a long point across from the Island of Michilimackinac.

            Ile 45-ton, 60-foot Griffon continued its joumey to Green Bay. In November, the vessel left
            to return with a load of fur. The Griffon was reportedly lost in Lake Michigan. Many
            speculate that it could have been a victim of the notoriously rough water of the Straits of
           -Mackinac. Whatever its fate, it seems likely that the ship would have stopped again at St.
            Ignace on its return voyage.

            An overview of the archaeology of East Moran Bay, written by Dr. Halsey, is included in this
            report as Appendix 4.





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             Side Scan Sonar Survey





             Background

             Remote sensing technology has advanced rapidly in recent years. Originally, the U.S.
             Defense Department sought accurate and low-cost ways to detect enemy submarines and
             developed sonar as a means of echo-location. Research and development led to side scan
             sonar which uses many receivers to draw a wider view of the bottom.

             Side scan sonar has become widely available in the last decade. This is due in part to the
             number of units manufactured, a slow down in oil and gas exploration on the continental shelf
             which used units extensively, reduction in the cost of -units, and the desire among sport divers
             and others to locate shipwrecks in the Great Lakes. Side scan sonar units tow a "fish"--a
             torpedo-like device-behind a slow-moving vessel. The fish is hard wired to a printing device
             that graphs the results.

             The product is much like a black-and-white photograph of the bottom to one who knows how
             to read the results. Researchers look for tall shadows to indicate structures that rise off the
             bottom. By using various calibrations, researchers can often determine the lengths and widths
             of these underwater structures.


             State Archaeologist John Halsey, Ph.D., became familiar with side scan sonar technology at a
            -Canadian conference. During a project at the Manitou Passage Underwater Preserve, Dr.
             Halsey had the opportunity to compare side scan sonar with other remote sensing
             technologies. As a result, Dr. Halsey expressed a preference for side scan sonar for survey
             work of the type involved in this project.

             Sea Search, Inc., of Muskegon, Michigan, was contracted to perform side scan sonar surveys
             of East Moran Bay and Mackinac Island Harbor. These surveys were conducted on May 5,
             1992. The operator, Craig Scott, used a Klein Side Scan Sonar unit towing a 500 mhz fish.


             Maritime Research Associates, Inc.








             'fhe device was calibrated to make a 150-foot sweep on each side of the fish as it moved
             through the water. The operator made a 150-foot overlap during the surveys so each portion
             of the survey area was covered twice. This offered two perspectives of underwater targets
             and helped identify some targets before volunteer divers were dispatched.

             Results


             The results of the survey were pieced together to create a mosaic of the bottomland. Mr.
             Scott and Steve Harrington, of Maritime Research Associates, Inc., reviewed the output
             extensively and identified key areas for further investigation. Those areas include:

              LattLon Coordinate s           Investigated?                  Results
              450 52.527840 43.10'           Yes                            Known wreck in pieces in
                                                                            East Moran Bay
              450 52.477840 43.23'           Yes                            Slab wood and other
                                                                            debris from lumbering era
                                                                            in East Moran Bay
              450 51.227840 42.05'           Yes                            Anchor from lumber
                                                                            boom in East Moran Bay
              450 52.457840 43.46'           No                             Believed to be buoy
                                                                            weight in East Moran Bay
              450 52.327840 42.80'           Yes                            Wood debris in East
                                                                            Moran Bay
              450 52.397840 43.30'           No                             Unknown-East Moran
                                                                            Bay
              450 50.847840 36.67'           Yes                            Shipwreck in Mackinac
                                                                            Island Harbor (new)
              450 51.007840 36.50'           No                             Believed to be buoy
                                                                            weight in Mackinac Island
                                                                            Harbor
              450 36.457840 50.84'           No                             Unknown target in
                                                                            Mackinac Island Harbor
              450 50.89/840 36.40'           Yes                            Known wreck upside
                                                                            @down near breakwall in
                                                                            Mackinac Island Harbor




             Maritime Research Associates, Inc.           12








             In addition to these targets, the side scan survey revealed the location of many "pockets" of
             slab wood believed to be left from the lumbering days of St. Ignace when at least one saw
             mill was in operation on East Moran Bay. Submerged pilings and "prop wash" areas, where
             the propellers of large vessels such as ferries have disturbed the bottom, were also identified.

             The side scan survey data was shared with local residents soon after it was obtained. The
             presentation was part of a public presentation made to local residents about submerged
             cultural resources in the Straits of Mackinac Underwater Preserve. In addition, the data was
             shared with officials from the Mackinac Island State Park Commission.


             Perhaps the most significant discovery is that of a new shipwreck in Mackinac Island Harbor
             (see Figure 1). Diving conditions made it difficult to investigate this target until late in the
             season when the ferry service was reduced. A team of volunteer divers comprised of Jim
             Montcalm and Lee Ortman inspected the wreckage and described the shipwreck as follows:

                     * The vessel appears to be relatively small, perhaps about 50 feet.
                     * The stem portion is broken up and scattered.
                     * About 15 feet of the bow section is intact and upside down on the bottom.
                     * An anchor with a shank about 5 feet long is still attached to the bow through a ring
                            secured at the bow stem.
                     * The vessel lies in 34 feet of water in a ferry lane.
                     9 No small artifacts were found in a single, cursory examination of the wreckage.

             The condition of the vessel, particularly the fact that the stem is broken and scattered,
             suggests that this vessel may have been the victim of a collision or other accident. The fact
             that the anchor is still present indicates that this site has not been much visited by sport
             divers.


             Generally, this area has good visibility (20 feet) but on the day of the investigation dive by
             the volunteer team, visibility was limited to approximately 10 feet. This means that much
             more could be learned from this site with more extensive investigation. A problem, however,
             is the location of the wreckage in a ferry route. Local divers believe that cooperation from a
             single ferry service could remove potential hazards to divers if additional investigations are
             conducted.


             During investigative dives by volunteer divers, a variety of small artifacts were found in both
            -East Moran Bay and Mackinac Island Harbor. Small artifacts were found on virtually every
             dive and included tools, wooden barrels, a parasol, slab wood, hardware, bottles, ceramicware,
             and similar items. Because of the variety and number of small artifacts found in both
             locations, it seems reasonable to expect that both the bay and harbor are significant reservoirs
             of important artifacts. Although no prehistoric artifacts were discovered, their presence'seems
             likely.




             Maritime Research Associates, Inc.               13








             It should be noted that although the side scan sonar unit used in this project was calibrated to
             detect the smallest items possible, many of the significant artifacts discovered during
             investigative dives were not detected by the unit. All items discovered by volunteer divers
             were either left in situ or replaced to their original location after underwater inspection. No
             artifacts were destroyed or raised from the bottomland during this project. Volunteer divers
             were trained in underwater archaeological techniques before participating.

             In addition to shipwrecks in Mackinac Island Harbor, the side scan sonar survey yielded other
             information. Specifically, the location of slabwood (see Figure 2), prop washes (see Figure
             3), and large pieces of known shipwreck debris (see Figure 4). Using NOAA charts and the
             data collected during this project, areas where significant amounts of artifacts are located can
             be plotted. This information will be extremely useful for planning purposes where
             bottornland activities are involved.


             The side scan sonar mosaics were used to plot the general locations of key bottomland
             features. Maps of East Moran Bay (see Figure 5) and Mackinac Island Harbor (see Figure 6)
             are included in this report.

             The original side scan sonar output will be offered to state agencies. If they do not want the
             output, then it will be filed with local government officials. The side scan sonar output will
             also be copied photographically and distributed to key individuals and agencies responsible
             for planning and development activities.

























             Maritime Research Associates, Inc.              14




















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                                                                                                             Figure  1. NewlY   discovered
                                                                                                             shipwreck in Mackinac Island
                                                         f,                                                  Harbor.
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            Figure 2. Large amounts of
            slabwood were discovered on the
            bottom of East Moran Bay.

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          Figure 3. Areas  where propellers           W
          from large vessels "washed" the
          bottom were evident.                                                            .0.

          Maritime Research Associates, Inc.










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                    -A.









                                                                                                                  i@Z


                                                                                                                   @0
                                4V
                                        J

                                 W v                                               fit i@-;
          IV
                                                                                           -7
                                T,
                                        v

                        Z
                                          r



                                                                                w



             Figure 4.   The white object to   the
             left and downward    of center is a
             piece of debris from a known
             shipwreck in East Moran Bay.

                                                                                                                 X,
             Maritime Research Associates, Inc.








               St. Ignace                                             Old Mill Slip
                                                                  V                                     N





                                                    East Moran Bay









            Arnold Transit
          St. Ignace

                                                      State Dock
                                                    Arnold Transit


               Unknown target
               Submerged Pilingst"Cribs"                                      State Dock
               Suspected ballast dumping
               Shipwreck/wreckage
               Slabwood


        Locations approximate
                                                  East Moran Bay


     Adapted from NOAA chart 14881 25th ed.



















                                                                                                 Missic













                                0.






              Unknown target
              Submerged Pilingst"Cribs"
              Suspected ballast dumping
              Shipwreck/wreckage
             Locations approximate
       Adapted from NOAA chart 14881 25th ed.        Mackinac Island Harbor











             Diver Access





             This project includes a diver access component. The portion of the project was designed to
             locate an area of East Moran Bay that could be used to provide a shore-access site for sport
             divers. This would enhance the diving experience in the Straits of Mackinac Underwater
             Preserve as well as offer an opportunity for interpretation and diver education.

             Originally, a survey of East Moran Bay near the Hazelton Avenue dead end was considered
             for a shore access dive site. The area had been extensively surveyed during two underwater
             archaeology courses. In addition, the site had been dived by the state archaeologist and other
             Bureau of History staff. The wealth of small artifacts and the discovery of a portion of a
             shipwreck made this the logical first choice.

             As the project progressed, however, it became known that there were several development
             plans being considered for the Hazelton Avenue site. These plans would likely interfere with
             the proposed shore dive access site so an alternative site was selected. The alternate site
             selected is adjacent to the Star Line Dock south of the Gandy Dancer Restaurant. This site
             was selected for the following reasons:

                    e 'Me site will be linked to the existing boardwalk system funded by the Coastal Zone
                           Management Program.
                    * The site will be developed into a waterfront park by the City of St. Ignace with
                           funding from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund.
                    e The site was municipally owned (a CZM requirement).
                    e The site is highly visible from the main highway (US-2).
                    e The potential for finding significant artifacts at the site was great (see Appendix 1).
                    * The site will not present user conflicts with boaters, ferries, anglers, etc.
                    o An interpretive sign format already exists (see Appendix 2).
                    9 The site can be easily observed by local sport divers to ensure protection of artifacts.
                      There is potential at this site to enhance sport diving through an underwater
                           interpretive trail such as that recently created at the Alger Underwater Preserve.
                      Parking and shore-access is available and convenient.



             Maritime Research Associates, Inc.            21









             As a result of this site change, the 1992 underwater archaeology course, sponsored by a
             variety of organizations and state agencies, conducted two surveys at the site. The results of
             one of those surveys is included in this report as Appendix 1.

             The surveys revealed a variety of both large and small artifacts. These artifacts included
             anchors, old bottles, cooking and eating utensils, tools, and other items. Because of the
             historical use of the area as a docksite for ferries and freight and passenger vessels, it appears
             as though many of these items were simply discarded from the dock and vessels using it.
             Many of these artifacts--including ceramic cookware--are intact and in excellent condition.

             There is no question that this site is far superior than the Hazelton Avenue site. It will make
             an excellent shore-access site with an interpretive sign that will inform and educate divers.
             The text of the sign, which will be consistent with other signs associated with the boardwalk,
             is included in Appendix 2.

             There is some interest among local sport divers in enhancing this dive site. One simple
             strategy is to lift a nearby anchor from the silt so it can be more easily seen. Local divers
             have proposed lifting the anchor but not otherwise moving it from the site. The anchor,
             discovered in early 1992, is believed to be associated with lumbering activity of the early
             1900s. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources and has given conditional approval
             for such a project, which may occur in 1993. See Appendix 3.

             Several "spinoff" activities have occurred as a result of designating this site as the diver
             shore-access site. The City of St. Ignace has included this diver access as part of their
             waterfront park. Also, local organizations have raised more than $1,000 to develop the site
             further for sport divers. This development will include steps and a diver platform.





















             Maritime Research Associates, Inc.               22










            Findings



            Although this historical review is cursory, the following conclusions can be drawn:

                    e The potential for historically/culturally significant artifacts on bottomlands in these
                           areas is great.

                    e The number and variety of artifacts likely to be found is great.

                    o There is considerable potential for finding both prehistoric and historic artifacts.

                    e There is a need for additional published historical information for both sites.

                    o The artifacts found on the bottornlands could provide valuable information about the
                           cultural development of the region.

                    e Terrestrial development has already obscured many important sources of artifacts.
                           The bottomlands of this region, therefore, potentially offer a rare wealth of
                           "clues" about cultural development.

















            Maritime Research Associates, Inc.            23











             Recommendations





             Recommendations are beyond the scope of this project because this project was primarily
             designed to provide data. During the course of the project, however, certain recommendations
             became obvious and it would be valuable to have these recommendations passed on to state
             and local government officials, the Michigan Underwater Preserve Council, and local
             organizations interested in historic preservation and management.

             e The East Moran Bay and Mackinac Island Harbor bottomlands host a wealth of
                    artifacts that could provide valuable information about cultural development
                    of the region. One striking fact about these areas is the scope and nature of human
                    activity. East Moran Bay and Mackinac Island Harbor were among the first settled by
                    Europeans and Native American activity predates colonialism. As a result, the bay
                    and harbor have been busy places for centuries and this activity is certain to have
                    caused a variety of artifacts to find their way to the bottomlands.

                    Because the water of Lake Huron in the Straits area is cold and generally clear, the
                    natural preservation qualities of freshwater are certain to have protected many
                    important artifacts. Unfortunately, the most significant artifacts are likely to be small
                    and were undetected by the side scan sonar. Some significant artifacts, however, were
                    discovered by volunteer sport divers and were generally left undisturbed on the
                    bottom.


               East Moran Bay and Mackinac Island Harbor should be the focus of an intensive
                    underwater archaeological survey to discover and preserve important
                    artifacts. If possible, this initiative should be coordinated with various state agencies;
                    such as the Mackinac Island State Park Commission, Michigan Bureau of History, and
                    local organizations and interest groups. This initiative is likely to yield important new
                    information about cultural development in the region because of the rich reservoir of
                    artifacts the bay and harbor represent.

                    Although tight state budgets generally prohibit such extensive archaeological work,
                    this initiative should be considered for priority. Funds for archaeological work may be

             Maritime Research Associates, inc.            24











                   available from the National Trust for Historic Preservation or other sources. In
                   addition, a work plan should include consideration of the Mill Creek and Fort
                   Michilimackinac sites for underwater archaeological survey work.

               The history of the St. Ignace area should be researched and published. St. Ignace
                   is rich in history and that history is the focus of much tourism-related businesses and
                   activities. Ironically, much of the historical record of this community is threatened
                   because it has not been recorded. Many elderly residents of the community can
                   provide valuable information but without oral histories, their recollections are likely to
                   fade.


                   The last history of St. Ignace was published in 1957 and was incomplete. Still, that
                   publication, Before the Bridge, can provide a starting point for a new publication.
                   Although no St. Ignace or Mackinac County historical society exists, there are several
                   related organizations and interested individuals who may be encouraged to undertake
                   such a project.

               East Moran Bay and Mackinac Island Harbor should be considered historic sites.
                   Unlike shipwrecks, the bottomland of the bay and harbor are less defined but
                   nonetheless significant as a source of archaeological information. Because of the vast
                   number and variety of artifacts known to be resting on the bottomlands, these two sites
                   should be treated as historic sites.


                   Treatment of a historic site should raise scrutiny of bottomland permit applications,
                   which means that development activities should be preceded by an underwater
                   archaeological survey to ensure that no important artifacts will be damaged or
                   destroyed. While the nature and scope of such an archaeological survey is the
                   responsibility of the Bureau of History, Michigan Department of State, it seems likely
                   that there is a role for the many volunteer sport divers who have been trained in basic
                   underwater archaeological techniques. Cooperation and coordination between state
                   officials, the Michigan Underwater Preserve Council, interested individuals, and other
                   organizations will be required.

               Sport divers visiting East Moran Bay and Mackinac Island Harbor should be
                   educated about the prohibitions of removing or damaging artifacts. The size
                   of many artifacts discovered in this project tends to make them "portable." Sport
                   divers must be educated so that they understand the still penalties for removing or
                   damaging artifacts. State and local government officials may want to consider
                   working with the Straits of Mackinac Area Underwater Preserve Committee, the
                   Michigan Underwater Preserve Council, and other organizations to educate sport
                   divers.






            Maritime Research Associates, Inc.           25









              The East Moran Bay shore access site should be considered as a receptacle for
                   large artifacts to enhance sport diving. The Alger Underwater Preserve
                   Committee has created an underwater interpretive trail using artifacts removed from
                   local shipwrecks years before regulations prohibited the activity. The same type of
                   trail could be created at the shore access site. The logical organization to undertake
                   this project would be the Straits of Mackinac Area Underwater Preserve Committee in
                   cooperation with the Michigan Underwater Preserve Council and local government
                   officials. Some artifacts removed from local vessels are currently decomposing at
                   uninterpreted sites along the city's waterfront. Some of those artifacts should be
                   considered for creation of the recommended underwater interpretive trail.

               Sport divers should be encouraged to avoid high-traffic areas of East Moran Bay
                   and Mackinac Island Harbor. The bay and harbor are busy with recreational
                   vessels and commercial ferries. The probability of a diver/vessel accident is great if
                   sport divers do not exercise common sense. While the danger is obvious and most
                   divers immediately recognize the potential problems, sport divers in this and other
                   preserves should be encouraged to avoid such high-traffic areas. This can be
                   accomplished--as it has been in this case--with the establishment of a shore-access
                   dive site well away from ferry lanes. Other preserves with high-traffic areas may want
                   to consider developing shore-access dive sites to "lure" sport divers away from
                   potential hazards.



























            Maritime Research Associates, Inc.          26










            Appendix 1

               Continuing Survey of East Moran Bay
                                   St. Ignace, Michigan

                                            July 17-19, 1992







            Subject:

            An area south of town and Star Line Mackinac Island Feny dock to be made into a
            waterfront park and used for advanced archaeology course focusing on project leadership.

            Objectives:

                   1) To locate pilings that were left from a dock that spurred off of the dock now being
                          used by Star Line Mackinac Island Ferry.
                   2) To locate pilings left from a rumored second dock.
                   3) To note any significant artifacts found during the survey as man were said to be
                          seen in the area during a previous survey.
                   4) To accomplish tasks in relation to the advanced project leadership course being
                          taken this same weekend by Fred Shannon, Maynard Shultz, Ban-y Stephan,
                          and Ben Tackitt.




            Maritime Research Associates, Inc.          27










             Historical Background:

             The information used for this project was obtained during the weekend. This information
             consists of maps supplied by Jim Montcalin and the Straits Underwater Preserves Committee.

             The earliest map we have was drawn in 1884, which is around the time the dock is believed
             to have been built. The dock was constructed for the Detroit, Mackinac and Marquette
             Railroad. The dock was used in lumber loading operations. Sometime before the turn of the
             century, dock (or the railroad company) changed hands. The railroads listed as using this
             dock are the Duluth South Shore and the Atlantic railroad companies. We were, unfortunate,
             unable to delve into the docks history in any detail. The current users of what is left of the
             old dock site are the Star Line Mackinac Island Ferry and the Gandy Dancer restaurant. The
             latter occupies the original depot.

             Site Description:

             The site is bordered on the north by the current dock and a forest of pilings that continue out
             for a total of approximately 587 feet The maximum depth is 20 feet at the datum line from
             the last piling (point B through point C to point F) with a gradual decrease back to the shore.
             The datum from point A through point D to point E was shore-based. The visibility ranged
             from 5 to 12 feet. The shore provided easy access and the bottom was mostly sand mixed
             with silt. Plans by the City of St. Ignace call for this site to be developed into a park. An
             interpretive trail for sport divers has been proposed for an area offshore from the proposed
             park.

             Survey Assessment:

             This site is so full of artifacts that further surveying and documenting is warranted. The
             concern now is preserving the artifacts as they are within YM easy reach of those who would
             pillage, despite the legal ramifications. There is obviously much that is just under the silt and
             sand that has yet to be discovered.

             Participating Team Members:

             Jim Montcalm                  Steve Shields
             Ron Scott                     Rick A. Weiss
             Jason Weiss                   Fred Leete
             Don Salwoski                  Ken Vrana
             Jim DeKeysor                  Brent Dekeysor
             Fred Shannon                  Ben Tackitt
             Maynard Shultz                Barry Stephan
             Phill Wright                  Rob Smith



             Maritime Research Associates, inc.             28









             Tasks Completed:

             Piling Survey

             Saturday, July 17, 1992, after briefing and a short course in surveying, the volunteer divers
             undertook an orientation dive of the site. The site planner and assistants laid out the site
             dimensions. Once that was completed, the crews were able to dive and undertake the
             underwater work with a grid system. The site was divided into two, 100-foot areas and the
             divers systematically swept these areas by swimming the width of the sites, each time
             covering about a 20-foot swath per diver. The divers marked piling remnants with marker
             buoys. The first area--points A,B,C, and D on the chart--yielded very little because the
             pilings were probably silted over in this area. This allowed us to sweep the second area--
             points C,D,E, and F. By using a boat and later a person in an inner tube carrying buoys, the
             pilings in both areas were quickly marked after they were found. A total of 18 pilings were
             marked and triangulated. Several more were found on Sunday but lack of time kept us from
             marking them.

             Artifact SunLey

             This day was reserved for visual observations of the site in search of artifacts. Forty-nine
             artifacts were reported. They seem to be randomly located except for a certain area where
             there was an increase in the concentration of artifacts.


             Observations and Conclusions:


             No pilings from the rumored second dock were located. The pilings marked give an
             indication of the direction of the spur, as shown on the accompanying site map.

             The debris field is probably where the ships would dock. Only one survey reading was taken,
             but this debris field has an approximate width of 20 feet, west to east. The length seemed to
             extend almost the entire length of the site.

             A list of artifacts reported, some with coordinates, is included in this report. Found in
             association with the bottles, china, etc., was a lot of charred wood. The remains of charred
             wood are all small pieces which may indicated that they were from fires built by workmen to
             keep wann rather than the result of a major fire on the dock.

             The Future:


             Several dives will be required to locate everything of significance on this site. Hopefully,
             beside future weekend dives, we need to organize a week-long survey of several dives to
             locate everything of significance on this site. This task should be done during the next year.




             Maritime Research Associates, inc.            29










             Pilings Survey Data;

             Bearings taken, July 17-18, 1992 (See map 1) (All bearings are North by East)

             Point A to B (last piling)      108
             Point B to C to E               162
             Point F to D to A                18
             Point F to B last piling)       89.5
             Point F to 1st group piling     75.8
             Point F to 2nd group piling     84.95



             Located Submerged Pilings (see map 1)


             Area 1

             1       98 feet from point A along the A-B datum line
             2       101 feet, 7" from point A long the A-B datum fine
                     (several submerged pilings were later spotted along the existing dock on the A-B
                     datum line after #1 and 2)
             3       153 feet from point D, 18 feet from C-D datum line

             Area 2


             1       143 from A, 71 from F
             2       145 from A, 76 from F
             3       146 from A, 77 from F
             4       149 from A, 77 from F
             5       154 from A, 87 from F
             6       155.5 from A, 86 from F
             7       156.5 from A, 85 from F
             8       157 from A, 84 from F
             9       157 from A, 90 from F
             10      159 from A, 89 from F
             11      160 from A, 88.5 from F
             12      162 from A, 91.5 from F
             13      163.5 from A, 93 from F
             14      164 from A, 95 from F
             15      166 from A, 99 from F






             Maritime Research Associates, Inc.               30
 








           Artifact Survey Data:

           Observer             Observations


           Jim DeKeysor         1. flashlight
                                2. glass base, 5" diameter, oblong shape
                                3. steel rudder
                                4. old "Danger" sign
                                5. caulking gun
                                6. chain links (?) (ovals)
                                7. gaff hook
                                8. horseshoe



           Brent DeKeysor       1. nuts, bolts, and washers
                                2. steel plates
                                3. pipe wrench
                                4. china bowl, intact
                                5. Champion spark plug
                                6. china platter
                                7. rag
                                8. flashlight

           Ben Tackitt          These artifacts were found on a 252* course from shore, through
                                submerged piling #7 to a line perpendicular with the first group of
                                pilings on the A-B datum line. The highest concentration found in a
                                20-foot area up to the first group of pilings.
                                1. two large truck or tractor tires, one with a very large whitewall
                                2. several old bottles
                                3. several old cans
                                4. a length of chain
                                5. many broken pieces of china, a few with maker stamps
                                6. a brick stamped "Boyne City"
                                7. a very thick and intact ceramic mug stamped:
                                       Carr China Co.
                                       Grafton, Va
                                       D-41
                                8. a very thick intact ceramic bowl with no maker stamp
                                9. a very thick intact ceramic plate stamped:
                                       Scammell's China
                                       Trenton
                                10. a field of debris at coordinates noted on site map
                                11. many pieces of charred wood



           Maritime Research Associates, Inc.         .31









            Barry Stephan       I. whiskey bottles approximately 150 feet from point B and 20 feet
                                       from the B-F datum line
                                2. 6" diameter pressure gauge, with needle intact, approximately 15 feet
                                       toward shore from whiskey bottles

            Jim Montcalm &
            Ken Vrana           On a course 234' from buoy #3
                                1. iron fastener
                                2. wire cable
                                On a course 300'
                                1. car hood
                                2. old (green) bottle/other bottles and potter pieces
                                3. drift pins/metal fasteners
                                4. decking and decking nails, cable
                                5. rudder (?), anchor (?) and brass belaying pin

            Ron Scott           Compass and distance readings taken from a pipe about 20 feet in front
                                of point A along the A-B datum line.
                                1. glass lantern base - 160' 8'
                                2. metal gear rod - I 10* 10'
                                3. glass jar - 90' 10'
                                4. Inverness Dairy, Cheboygan (1/2 point cream bottle) - 100* 10'
                                5. metal light fixture - 160* 12'
                                6. 18" chain with ring - 160' 12'
                                7. mailbox - 150* 12'
                                8. small tobacco can - 300' 13'
                                9. white bowl, 8" diameter - 240' 12'
                                10. old whiskey bottle with cork stopper - 270'
                                11. white bowl, 8 " diameter - 240' 12'
                                12. toilet bowl - 2850 15'
                                13. old pint bottle - 1900 10'
















            Maritime Research Associates, Inc.        32






                                  STAR LINE DOCK                            MAP #2


                                                                               IST GROUP PILING

                                                                   - - - - - - - ---









                                                           AREA I




                                  4,


                                        - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -













          NORTH
                                                           AREA 2             Debris Area
                                                                             Found By Tackitt
                                                                               Width Approx. 20'
                         149,59                                                Unknoum Length
                          Ngs 9
                          N95*9
                          NqTE



           ------------------------------------------
0,0


















                                                                                                                                  MAP #1

                                                                                                                                 -LECEND-
                                                                                                                                Q -CROUP PILINC

                                                                                                                                     PILINC

                                                                                                                                A - SUBMERCED PILINC
                                                                                         Forest Of Pilings                      0 -POINr

                                                                                                                                    PL OA'r

                                         LINE DOW,

                                                                                isr 4"" mum
                                                                                       ------------------                   -----------                B
   A                                                                                                                                     LASr PILISC
                                                                                                                                         APPROX. S84.7!
                                                                                                                                         FROM POINr A





                                                             AREA I



                                                    A
   D        - - - - - - - - - -       A   - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ---                        C
                                          A
                                         A
                                       A



                                    AAA A                                                                                                              AVAT
                                   AA A                      AREA 2             Debris Area
                                                                               Found By Toe itt
                                  A                                             V"A AM-
                                  A
                                  A


   F& ---- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                                                  rLwr
    0,0                                                               PAST MORAN BAY
                  S T.            IGNACE
                        South Of Town                                  By Star Line Docks
                                                       Surveyed       July f 7,18f 1992








          Appendix 2

                          Diver Access Sign Text



          Strewn across the bottomlands of East Moran Bay, particularly off this
          beach, are fascinating artifacts discarded from canoes, schooners, and
          steamboats for more than 300 years.

          Commercial vessels--from Indian and French canoes to modern ore
          carriers--have passed this way for centuries maintaining a vital link
          between the natural resources of the region and markets to the east,
          south, and west. Passengers of all sorts have passed this way on their
          way to Indian villages, European trading posts, commercial docks, and
          resorts.


          Today, skin and scuba divers enjoy prowling the bottomlands to discover
          anchors, tools, bottles, machinery, and other items that were lost from
          passing ships. Strict laws--largely written by sport divers themselves--
          forbid divers from removing these artifacts so they will continue to intrigue
          divers of other generations. In this way, our maritime heritage is
          preserved for others to enjoy.











          Maritime Research Associates, Inc. 35




I
I
I
I
I          Appendix 3                                                                          i
I                                     Anchor Lifting
I                       Memorandum and Response
I
I
I








'A










  I


           Maritime Research Associates, Inc.      36 .












            August 13, 1992




            MEMORANDUM



            To:           John Halsey, Tom Graf

            From:         Steve Harrington, Maritime Research Associates, Inc.

            RE:           Anchor in East Moran Bay



            Background

            After several years of searching, St Ignace diver Jim Montcalm discovered the location of an
            anchor at the south end of East Moran Bay (map attached). Mr. Montcalm. began his search
            after learning from a local historian about a logging operation that ceased in the early 1900's.
            Ile historian, an elderly man, informed Mr. Montcalm that during the final clean up
            operations, an anchor was lost off a boom used to guide logs in the bay.

            Today, the anchor rests in about 12 feet of water in a silty-sand bottom. Although the stock
            of the anchor is clearly visible, only a single fluke and part of the shank lies above the
            bottomland. A short chain is also attached to the anchor but appears to be unconnected on
            the other end.


            Although the area generally has many small artifacts, the anchor is isolated and is not
            associated with any other features. The area in which the anchor lies is designated a shore-
            access site and will be interpreted and signed through a Coastal Zone Management Grant
            administered by the Land and Water Management Division of the Michigan Department of
            Natural Resources. Currently, the area is the subject of an intensive underwater
            archaeological project and is the site of shore-access sport diving. The anchor is frequently
            marked by local divers with a single plastic milk jug.


            Proposal

            Because the anchor is located near a popular shore-access site, and because much of the
            anchor is currently not visible to divers, a group of local divers proposes to raise the portion


            Maritime Research Associates, Inc.         37











            Memorandum
            August 13, 1992
            Page 2




            of the anchor now lying underneath bottomland soils. This action is expected to enhance the
            recreational value of the site and artifact as well as provide an opportunity for archaeological
            research on the anchor should that be desirable.


            This proposal does not anticipate the movement of the anchor beyond that necessary to
            expose the hidden portions. A series of photographs have been secured by Maritime Research
            Associates (MRA), Inc., in anticipation of approval to expose the anchor.

            In this case, MRA is representing the Straits of Mackinac Underwater Preserve Committee
            and does not expect to be directly involved in planning or implementation of the anchor
            movement. MRA, however, has trained the local divers involved in basic underwater
            archaeology techniques through classes taught in St. Ignace by maritime archaeologist Phillip
            Wright.

            The local divers expect to be able to use lift bags to accomplish the movement. If during this
            project new artifacts are discovered, or the situation is other than described, the activity will
            be suspended until the situation can be assessed and DNR and Department of State officials
            can be apprised of the situation.

            Because this activity does not involve the destruction, alteration, or recovery of state-owned
            property and only a minor change in the position of that property, a permit is not sought.



















            Maritime Research Associates, Inc.            38









                                                                           STATE OF MICHIGAN


   NATURAL RESOURCES
        COMMISSION
        LARRY DEVUYST
        PAUL EISELE
        GORDON E. GUYER                                                 JOHN ENGLER, Governor
        JAMES P. HILL
        DAVID HOLLI                               DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
        0. STEWART MYERS                                  Stevens T. Mason Building, P.O. Box 30028, Lansing. MI 48909
        JOEY M. SPANO                                                     ROLAND HARMES, Director



                                                                                   August 26, 1992



                   Mr. Steve Harrington
                   Maritime Research Associates, Inc.
                   PO Box 275
                   Mason, Michigan 48854


                                                             RE: Anchor in East Moran Bay

                   Dear Mr. Harrington:

                   This is in response to your memo                                          of August 1, 1992 regarding a
                   partially submerged anchor in East Moran Bay. You stated in the
                   memo that a group of divers in St. Ignace wish to raise the anchor
                   from the bottom and place it on the lake bed adjacent to its
                   current position. The objective is to expose the anchor to enhance
                   the recreational value of the site in conjunction with the ongoing
                   underwater archaeological survey project in the Bay.

                   Permits would not be required to remove the anchor and place                                                                    it on
                   the lake bed for viewing and study.                                                  If, however, during this
                   project, new artifacts are discovered or the situation is other
                   than described, the raising of the anchor will be suspended and the
                   Department contacted to assess the situation.

                   Please provide me with photographs of the anchor in its proposed
                   position on the lake bed.

                   Thank you for the opportunity to review the proposal and comment.

                                                                                   sincerely,




                                                                                   Thomas P. Graf
                                                                                   Submerged Lands Management Unit
                                                                                   Land and Water Management Division
                                                                                   517-373-1950


                   cc: John Halsey, DOS






                                                                                 39

   R 1026
   2/92








          Appendix 4

                      Overview of Archaeology of
                                 East Moran Bay






                             From Diving Into St. Ignace Past:
                     An Underwater Investigation of East Moran Bay


                                        Maritime Press
                                      290 Gorman Road
                                      St. Ignace, MI 49781
                                        Copyright 1990


















          Maritime Research Associates, Inc.   40






                               Archaeology of East Moran Bay

                                                   By John Halsey






                 The brief underwater survey of a small                     line. Several historic features were located on
                 portion of East Moran Bay yieldeA some                     the bottom that do not appear on any of the
                 discoveries.                                               maps. One is a large, square, crib filled with
                 A variety of artifacts of the last century were            stone and lying just offshore. Another historic
                 discovered. Limitations of the survey efforts              feature appears to be a cast-iron water intake
                 were also apparent Technical limitations                   pipe, presumably once connected to shore-
                 included: bottom time, inexperience of survey-             based water treatment facilities.
                 ors and our desire to leave all artifacts in place.
                 No evidence of prehistoric or early historic                          Maritime Commerce
                 occupations were found, but this is not surpris-
                 ing. Ancient prehistoric remains are likely to             The primary function of a harbor is to protect
                 be concentrated on old beach ridges located in             ships so they can safely and efficiently dis-
                 the Straits and beyond the scope of the survey.            ch≥ and load cargo. Harbors may be the
                 Silt deposits may obscure these remains.                   scenes of collisions, which result in sinkings.
                 No trace of historic Native American or early              Vessels, scuttled because of deterioration, can
                 French occupations was found. Such evidence                also be found on harbor bottoms.
                 is undoubtedly present in the bay, but the                 Our survey tumed up a portion of a wooden
                 nature of such remains is uncertain. Canoe                 ship's keel and a metal deck winch. These
                 spills of isolated pottery vessels, mde goods or           items were found distant from each other and
                 bales of fur may be expected. Remains from                 are probably not from the same vessel. Addi-
                 this period are likely to be relatively small and          tional surveys could determine whether there
                 hidden in bottom sediments. 71be study area                are more such artifacts beneath the slab wood.
                 was away from the main area of early historic              St. Ignace's role as a jet fuel transshipment
                 settlement and represents a filled and altered             facility during the Kom= War is evident from
                 zone so that evidence of early occupations may             large fuel tanks off a point of land at the
                 have been removed or obscured.                             northeast end of the harbor. The docks built
                 There were signs of other usages of the bay.               during the lumbering era were still in place in
                 There is much slab wood littering the harbor               the 1950s and were known as the "fuel com-
                 bottom. 'Ibis is the waste of the lumbering era,           pany dock." The docks were serviced by a rail
                 specifically, of the Mackinaw Lumber Com-                  spur from the Duluth, South Shore and Adan-
                 pany mill and dock adjacent to the area sur-               tic Railway that ran out to the end of the dock.
                 veyed. Wood of many sizes and shapes lie at                From here, the fuel was transported to large air
                 every angle. They distract and confuse survey-             bases in the Upper Peninsula.
                 ors because many have the appearance of                    There has been no survey around the tanks. It
                 finished boards or planks on at least one side.            is uncertain what lies on the bottom of the bay
                 The mill and its byproducts undoubtedly mask               in this area.
                 earlier remains.                                           The construction of the Mackinac Bridge has
                 Insurance maps created between 1884 and                    left traces on the bottom of the bay. The point
                 1901 offer detailed information about upland               of land immediately northeast of the study area
                 properties, including docks. The maps are                  was used for material storage. during construc-
                 useful but their usefulness ends at the water-             tion. The team discovered that an American



                                                                     41





                                                         Diving Into St. Ignace Past
















                                                                               has been developed into a public boat launch
                                                                               facility. An ice chisel -- or perhaps a bark spud
                                                                                 found during the survey, represents an
                               000A8000                                        epikde of ice fishing.
                                                                                An ice strainer, used to keep an ice fishing
                                                                               hole open, was also discovered. One can
                                                                               imagine the "blue" language from the fisher-
                                                                               man's lips as he watched the strainer drift to
                                                                               the bottom Additional examination of the
                                                                               bottom is likely to reveal lures, hooks and
                 Marked 'AB" for American Bridge Division of                   weights lost in the slab woocL Divers also
                 United State Steel Corp., this helmet was                     discovered many golf balls scattered through-
                 used by a bridge worker during the construc-
                 tion of the Macidnac Bridge. The flared brim                  out the study area. Obviously, some golfers
                 fthardhat7           I ' the 1950s, later                     have used the shoreline east of Shepler's dock
                            was popu ar in
                 giving way to the front visor type. The first                 to work on their drives.
                 structural steel was installed July 2,1955, by                  Surprisingly, for an area so dependent on
                 Ambridge crews. Sketch: Jackson; Ink:                         tourism, there was little recent litter. Although
                 Kubitz.                                                       thousands of tourists are ferried across the bay
                                                                               every day during the summer, there is little
                                                                               trace of their passage in the portion of the bay
                                                                               surveyed. The fact that the survey area is well
              Bridge Division employee lost a hard hat                         outside the ferry lanes is a likely explanation.
              overboard. Several, large, hopper-like objects                     Underwater archaeological survey of the boat
              discovered late in the last day of the survey                    launch area of East Moran Bay has shown that
              were probably used to move bulk materials                        an array of artifacts of all sizes can be found
              such as sand and gravel. Those objects were                      and represent the use history of the area. While
              probably abandoned.                                              no "great finds" were discovered -- such as a
               Considering the magnitude of the construc-                      large, intact shipwreck -- other evidence of
              tion project, more evidence of construction                      human activity was discovered. What we
              activities was expected. A survey conducted                      found was an approximation of the truth.
              under the Mackinac Bridge in connection with                     That's not bad for a start.
              the investigation of an auto accident in 1989
              revealed a variety of equipment and materials
              lost or thrown into the Straits. If this practice
              was common in East Moran Bay, a survey of
              the north side of the bay could reveal many
              artifacts. Such a survey could also determine
              the function of the "hoppers."
               There are traces of recent, transient re-crea-
              tional use of the harbor. The former dock area



                                                                        42


















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