Looks like the Anchor wreck has been Identified. Mike Barnett found an article about the loss of the Leif Eriksson when it collided with the “City of Everett” Survivors were brought to New York so the local papers never did a story on it. Pete Manche recovered some artifacts and valves made in sweden. The Leif Ericksson was a Norwegian steamer carrying sugar from Cuba to Philadelphia when the collision happened. 2 sailors drowned. Salvage was attempted and may account for the extra anchors on the ship.
The “Anchor Wreck” is the final resting spot of an unidentified steamer in approximately 100 feet of water off Charleston, South Carolina. The site is noted by three large anchors aft of the bow, hence the name. Aside from scattered hull plates and other wreckage, the site is dominated by a large triple expansion engine and two boilers.
After conducting research on potential suspect vessels, we believe the “Anchor Wreck” to be the remains of the freighter Leif Eriksson. The Eriksson was a Norwegian steamer built in 1889. The 2,218 ton vessel was 274.5 feet in length and 38 feet in breadth. She sunk following a collision with the steamer City of Everett in February 1905 off Bull’s Bay, just north of Charleston. Period newspaper articles documented she came to rest upright in approximately 14 fathoms (84 feet) of water with her masts still showing. Based on the machinery, depth, location, recovered artifacts, and dimensions of the wreck site, we believe the Leif Eriksson is the most likely identity of the “Anchor Wreck.”
More information and images will be added to the AUE website in the near future. http://www.charlestondiving.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=1337&st=0#entry7628
Year Built: 1889
Name: LEIF ERIKSSON
Type: Cargo ship
Date of completion: 8.89
Flag: NOR
Tons: 2128
LPP: 274.54 feet
Beam: 38.05 feet
Builder: Laxevaag M & J
Location of yard: Laksevaag
Number of screws/Mchy: single screw, triple expansion engine Owner as Completed: S.M.Kuhnle & Son, Bergen
Up untill a couple of years ago this was a pretty good bottom fishing spot, especially coming out of McClellanville as it is only 26 miles from the five fathom entrance. The grouper/snapper population on the wreck has been decimated by a couple of commercial boats that fish out of Georgetown using scuba and spearguns. I have seen both of these boats bring in literally hundreds of grouper, utilizing two different parties of divers to alternate bottom time and on deck time. The boats would spend several days on the wreck, for all I know fishing it 24 hours a day. The above story confirms what a Mcvlle. tug captain who is now retired had told me about the wreck several years ago that it was indeed a merchantman with a partial cargo of ships anchors.
Tanks,
They work out of the west coast of FL not Georgetown. Illeagal to possess or sell fish in SC, GA, and east coast of FL that have taken by powerheads. They utilize a tender to ferry supplies back and forth. As long as they stay out in federal waters there is nothing DNR can do at this time. Yes they really rape an area. Have back dove ledges behind them and seen spent casings on bottom. Sucks, but they squeak by the law.
The homeports of both of these vessels is actually on the east coast of Fla. Both of them tie up in the Sampit. The captain of one of the boats actually allowed me to tie off of his stern and gave me room let my party dive (we were not spear-fishing). They were using conventional heads, not powerheads. As this wreck is indeed in federal waters and the captains have the proper permits/licences they can and do sell thier catch in Georgetown. I did not mean to imply that they were doing anything illegal, however it is ashamed that this area is not incorporated into the state artificial reef program. I was also told yesterday by the tug captain who had given me info on this before that it was already known locally that this was the Leif Erricson. He was surprised that this was supposed to be new information.
I believe it is illegal to have in your possession any fish that was powerheaded in the EEZ off SC. Not quite sure why it is illegal, I guess it would make for a clean quick kill which is the same thing we try to accomplish with deer and other game. I would prefer not to use them even if they were legal.
I’ve heard of the commercial boats you are talking about. They are out of Jacksonville come up to Georgetown a couple weeks a year. I believe that boat was boarded and powder swabs taken of the fish to test for ph use but none was found. It’s odd if they do PH. Those are meant for big powerful fish like big amberjack, cobia, etc. For grouper snapper they take much longer time to reload and would kind of be overkill, attract a lot of sharks, and have the potential to ruin a lot of meat.
I’m not big on commercial fishing wiping out an area but if there HAS to be commercial fishing then spearing is a very ecologically friendly method of harvest. No Bycatch, no short fish that have to be thrown back embolized, etc. I have never fished commercially, just my observations.
The Anchor is still a great fishing spot.
Rob H
Charleston diving http://www.charlestondiving.com (Fish not Biting? Try a fast presentation of spring steel)</font id=“green”>
_
