Fish Tugs of the Greatest Lake

C.W TURNER

Built in 1900 for S.P. Hogstad Fish Co., Duluth, Minn. 55 ft. x 13 ft. boat was equipped with a Kahlenberg gas engine. By 1912 Booth Fisheries had acquired her for operation from their Bayfield, Wis. plant, picking up fish from the many fish camps among the islands. Passengers were also carried. In 1923 the gas engine was replaced with a 50-60 hp. Kahlenberg oil engine.

The boat was engaged as a fish tug in the fall herring run. A net lifter was installed on the port side. Some very sizeable lifts of herring were always brought in during the approximately two-week fishery. In the spring she was used to set gillnets for the various fishermen fishing for the Booth Company.Their later boat, APOSTLE ISLANDS, was also engaged in the herring fishing season.

The boat was last operated in 1937. The next year the cabin and engine were removed, and the hull towed to Houghton Pt. to form a breakwater in front of the Elmer Bodin Fisheries dock.

Photos: Top, C.W. TURNER at Bayfield, undated; bottom, circa 1920s.