The Seattle Times today reported that emerging from state-owned lands along Washaway Beach south of Grayland is wreckage of an old vessel. Although not yet confirmed, it was reported that the vessel could be part of the “Canadian Exporter, a freighter that broke in two in August 1921 while carrying 3 million board feet of lumber and 200 tons of general cargo, as noted in a contemporary issue of American Shipping magazine.” As of Thursday, the exposed wreckage appeared to be about 125 feet long.
Todd Welker, DNRs regional assistant manager for aquatics checked it out this morning to evaluate the next steps regarding the wreckage.
Although the exact vessel is unconfirmed, what is known is that property that is embedded in state-owned lands belongs to the state, and will be assessed for historic and material values, and dealt with appropriately. It is likely that we will pull in our agency’s cultural resource manager and the state’s Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation.
The public is certainly welcome to view this intriguing find, from a distance. Looting is a legal matter.
