-- The scrap sales continue. Word has been received to the effect that the Inland Steel Company has sold its 60-year-old steamer PHILIP D. BLOCK to Marine Salvage Ltd., presumably for dismantling overseas. The 659-foot BLOCK, which was lengthened in 1951 and repowered in 1953. has recently been idle at Indiana Harbor, a victim of the business recession.

-- A recently reported but particularly notable scrap sale involves the 40-year-old steamer CLIFFS VICTORY, (a) NOTRE DAME VICTORY (51). Idle for several years at South Chicago, the VICTORY was to go to Toledo as a museum, but that deal fell through, and the Cleveland-Cliffs Steamship Company has now applied to the U.S. Maritime Administration for permission to sell the speedster to Taiwan shipbreakers.

-- Another ship likely to head to the breakers soon is the Bethlehem Steel Corporation's 25-year-old "jumbo-ized" straight-deck steamer ARTHUR B. HOMER, which has been lying idle at Erie, Penna. Not only are there no plans to operate HOMER again, but on June 22nd, she was attacked by vandals who smashed most of her windows and portholes and created other havoc on board.

-- Early in July, the Gaelic Tug Boat Company, Detroit, sold its 75-foot tug DONEGAL to the Roen Salvage Company, Sturgeon Bay. The tug, renamed JOHN R. ASHER and painted in Roen colours, has been working on the construction of a new light crib in Lake Huron, just above the Huron Cut.

-- Three interesting warships have toured the lakes this summer and all of them have stopped at Toronto for public viewing. In port at various times have been the Italian destroyer MAESTRALE, the Canadian destroyer-escort M.C.S. OTTAWA, and the American guided missile fast frigate U.S.S. STARK.

-- Four interesting victims of the grain movement doldrums are LAKETON, SENNEVILLE, BLACK BAY and MURRAY BAY, all of which are anchored in Hamilton Harbour with grain storage cargoes in their holds.

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