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Curt Smitka writes, in response to my response to Keith Hadland on taking artifacts from the Big Wreck: >As a serious wreck diver who has assisted inidentifing many "virgin >wrecks" neither I or my associates have every had to remove an >artifact to identify a wreck. Take only pictures and leave the wrecks >intact for future divers to enjoy. I would hate to see another Holy War on artifact-taking erupt on techdiver - can't we leave that for rec.scuba?. I must, however, point out the difference between diving in Michigan, where Curt is, and the North Atlantic. The Great Lakes preserve wrecks, so artifacts left on the wrecks stay intact, and do not become covered with anemones, coral, etc. In fact, I believe it is illegal to remove artifacts in the Great Lakes, so Curt's virtue is in fact necessity. The ocean, however, tends to destroy wrecks through corrosion, wave action, etc., and artifacts that are not taken are eventually lost. Moreover, whereas writing or marks on artifacts which can identify a wreck are typically visible on Great Lakes wrecks, they are usually overgrown with marine life on ocean wrecks and must be removed and cleaned before they can be read. John Heimannj@ma*.nd*.gt*.co*
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