Ya Just GOTTA Be Careful, Out There

[SwampDonkey]

errmm ;) Hold ya mousy over the words 'Here's an interesting article' sigh.....

[Furby]

 :D :D :D :D
I like the way you think Deadheader!  :D :D

[etat]

I liked  your statement Fla. about calling em crooks.   I'm a thinking you might not always win but you're sure gonna argue the point and make em squirm in the process.  Specially when you know that you're more right than they are!!!! ;D 8) 8) 8)

Heck, I bet you'd argue it even if you weren't right, I know I would!!!!! ;D

[Fla._Deadheader]

 :-[ :-[ :-[  I DID move the cursoe all over the post. Missed it by THAAAAAT much. ;D ;D  

  CK, best defense is a good offense. ;D ;D ;D :D :D :D

  Now, I'll go read the article. :

  Shoot fire, I already done did read that article.  They get more $$$$ for their wood.  Florida State figgered out that there is a little money in what we do, so, they instigated big permit fees, so we don't get too rich. : : >:( >:( ;D

[SwampDonkey]

 :D :D  What a guy  :D :D

 8)

[Ron Scott]

Deadheader,

Yes we did salvage many quality hardwood logs from the fresh water lakes here. Most of our logs were hardwoods as they were usually the "sinkers" as being the more denser wood.

As Furby said, the cold waters of Lake Superior especially retained the hardwood quality. Much of our diving there was in 35-45 degree water. I remember one freezing cold hole at a 50 foot depth in Lake Superior where we had to wear a dry suit over a 1/4 inch wet suit in early July and regularly surface to the boat to get warm. That was in 1963; equipment is much better today.

[Furby]

Ok, been thinking about Deadheader's little comment to the state.
I'm guessing this is a stupid ?, but the mill owned the logs when they went down. What are the recovery laws, both then AND today. What I mean to say is, it really don't have anything to do with fishing grounds and such, more or less just recovery of personal property, well kinda.  : :

Anyone know where I can find out what is contained in these court cases?

Just thinking, that's all!  ;D ;) ;)

[Ron Scott]

There is a lot of legal opinions that can be researched on salvage law. Years back we operated as follows and salvage law was often a "finders keepers" kind of thing when the ownership was unknown.

1) Submerged logs belonged to the owner for recovery in a timely manner.
2) If one didn't declare ownership with proof of ownership, log mark etc. and the logs were left submerged for 30 days or more without any action towards recovery, they were considered abandoned and became open for salvage by the finder.
3) Submerged logs were often considered to be the ownership of the closest mill if such ownership could be established. If not they became available for salvage by whoever found them.

That was years back, now the submerged logs are claimed as property of the state from whose waters they are located in. Any salvage then is in accordance to that state's laws and permits are required for any salvage if allowed.

The original "finders keepers" kind of salvage laws pretty much doesn't exist anymore as they have become superseded by all sorts of jurisdictional and environmental laws.

Following Mel Fisher's story on his finding and salvage of the Atochia treasures off Florida is a story of legal battles concerning salvage law.  :P

[Fla._Deadheader]

  Right on, Ron. The funny part about Mel's fight is, the wreck is NOT in Florida waters. It is 40 miles off Key West. The Feds tried to fight Mel, but, they used "Piracy" type confiscation actions. The high courts gave everything to Mel. He had originally offered the State a nice percentage. They ended up with nothing. Of course, it cost a bundle in court fights over the years, but, at 400 million $+, I guess it worked out. : :  ;D ;D ;D

  Here, if you find a "Branded" log, you HAVE to bring it in and call the local Sheriff. He will "arrest" the log, and you have to haul it to their impound yard. He will "supposedly" do a search for the owner or heirs thereof, and if he strikes out, he gets to sell the log and keep the proceeds for his efforts at trying to locate the owner(s).  How's THAT for your friendly govt. helping the taxpayer ??? >:( >:( >:( >:(

  There's more, but, if I post it, I will lose all the rights to recover logs, if the wrong people read it.  That's all I got to say about that. ;) ;D ;D ;D ;D.

[SwampDonkey]

I'de also like to here from the beach comber types from the BC coast. But, I don't think they can beach comb now. I could be mistaken. No, I'm not talkin about Bruno Gerussi of the CBC tv series of the 70's. ;)

The Beachcombers

Theme (639kb)

;D ;D

[Furby]

Ron, what you said is pretty much what my understanding of things was.
Deadheader, I hear ya, don't want ya to lose out on anything!  ;)
SD, that's another thing I've been giving some thought the last few weeks, beach combing! But I figured I'd still be in the same boat so to speak!  ;D

[Grawulf]

Fla._Deadheader,
Do you have any pics of the rig you use to raise the logs here on the forum? Would love to see some of that southern ingenuity! Do the logs smell swampy :-/ when you're sawing or do they retain the smell of the tree? Is there a different drying schedule for wood that's been submerged - just curious - not many submerged logs here around Savannah, Ohio, although they did find an ancient Indian dugout close to us - looked like a log to me!