Maritime Casualty Report: F/V Pelee

  • Type: Fishing Vessel
  • Casualty: Sinking
  • Location: Off Port Stanley, Ontario, Lake Erie
  • Era: Mid-late 20th century (exact date uncertain)
  • Name: Pelee (possibly named after Pelee Island, Lake Erie)
  • Type: Commercial fishing vessel
  • Length: Estimated 40-60 feet (typical Great Lakes fishing boat)
  • Hull Material: Wooden (1950s-60s) or steel (1970s+)
  • Homeport: Likely Port Stanley or nearby Lake Erie port
  • Lake Erie’s fishing fleet peaked in mid-20th century before declining due to overfishing/regulations
  • Many small fishing vessels lost to storms, equipment failures

Incident Details

Sinking Circumstances

  • Location: Lake Erie, near Port Stanley (exact coordinates unconfirmed)
  • Possible Causes:
  1. Weather: Sudden Lake Erie storms (notorious for quick, violent waves)
  2. Overloading: Fish holds exceeding safe capacity
  3. Collision: With submerged object or commercial ship
  4. Equipment Failure: Hull breach or pump failure

Casualties

  • Number of crew lost unknown (typical crews: 2-4 fishermen)
  • No major newspaper records found (suggests a smaller, undocumented tragedy)

Wreck Status

Discovery Status

  • No known official wreck identification
  • Potential locations:
  • Port Stanley’s “Fishing Grounds” (historical hotspot 5-10 miles offshore)
  • Along shipping lanes where trawlers operated

Dive Conditions (If Found)

  • Depth: 50-120 feet (Lake Erie’s average depth in area)
  • Visibility: 5-15 feet (algae/sediment affects clarity)
  • Preservation: Wooden Hull likely deteriorated; steel Hull might remain

Research Leads

Archival Sources

  1. Port Stanley Fishermen’s Association (historical records)
  2. Canadian Coast Guard Casualty Database (post-1960s incidents)
  3. London Free Press Archives (local newspaper reports)

Oral Histories

  • Elderly Port Stanley fishermen may recall the incident
  • Local maritime museums may have unpublished accounts

Significance

  • Represents the dangers faced by Lake Erie’s small-boat fishing industry
  • If located, could be protected as a commercial fishing heritage site

Recommendation: Focus research on 1960s-1980s Canadian Coast Guard reports and interview retired fishermen.