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Anthony DeBoer wrote:

> A discussion came up with a fellow Ontario diver today about the apparent
> differences in attitude toward wreck preservation on either side of the
> US/Canada border.  From where we're sitting (north side of Lake Ontario),
> we see that wrecks on the Canadian side are protected by law, while much
> of what we see and hear from the US side suggests that it's open season
> on artifacts.  
> 
> I seem to recall hearing several years ago that Congress was passing a
> very restrictive wreck-preservation law; did anything ever come of that?
> What about state law (specifically New York)?  Or is there any great
> difference between what's on the books and what actually happens out on
> the lakes?  We'd like a better idea of what folks across the water are
> doing and thinking.

Here in Alaska, shipwrecks in state waters (0-3 miles) are protected by
State law.  Any salvage is strictly prohibited unless it's part of
an archaeological expedition with appropriate state permits.  I don't 
know of anyone who dives in Federal waters out open North Pacific.  The 
seas can be savage but more importantly, there isn't much in the way of 
a continental shelf, so running more than 3 miles offshore is likely to 
put you in 1000+ ft of water.  There are a few offshore seamounts that 
are shallow enough to dive but I don't know of any diveable wrecks that
are in Federal waters off Alaska so we've never really paid attention
to Federal law.  

I would be interested in hearing about any updates in Federal law, if
there have been any recent ones.

Kent Lind
Juneau, Alaska

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