The 1979 navigation season has been an interesting one on the Great Lakes and we are pleased to have been a part of it by being able to report the various developments to our readers. There have been a number of serious accidents, some interesting sales and renamings of familiar vessels, and a few humourous incidents. We of the Toronto Marine Historical Society have enjoyed a good season of boatwatching and, although our job of observing the passing vessels is considerably easier than the task of owning or operating them, we feel that we have contributed our share in preserving a written and photographic record of what has taken place. Our only wish would be that we might have reversed the clock so that we could have accomplished the same task with the ships that were in operation a number of years ago, and for which the records are not as complete as we might have wished.

In any event, a great deal of credit is due our various members. Some of them are involved in the actual operation of lake vessels, either in the offices of various fleets or else aboard the ships themselves. Others have assisted us in the observation or photography of the boats, and still more have been regular correspondents of the Society, gathering news items for us and sending them in for inclusion in the pages of "Scanner".

We sincerely hope that, in 1980 and the years that follow, we will still be able to rely on the same invaluable support and contribution from our members. It is only through the combined co-operation of all that we are able to document the happenings, past and present, that make up the sometimes tenuous fabric of marine history.

But now, as the old year wanes and the ships scurry about with their last few cargoes of the season, our thoughts turn to winter and to the frozen expanses that our lake waters will become. The boats fight their way through abominable weather conditions to supply the stockpiles necessary for the steel mills and grain elevators to continue their operations during the winter months. The mists of winter gather over the cold waters and it is time to head for winter quarters.

It is impossible for us to send individual greetings to each and every member of our ever-growing group of friends and fellow historians. Accordingly, Your Editor and the entire Executive Committee of the Toronto Marine Historical Society would like to take this opportunity to wish each of you, together with your loved ones, a Merry and Blessed Christmas and all Happiness and Success in the New Year. May 1980 bring to all of us only the Best in all that we may do.

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Reproduced for the Web with the permission of the Toronto Marine Historical Society.