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From: OhioDiver
Category: News & Rumor
Date: 16 Mar 2004
Time: 05:37:39
Remote Name: 68.117.131.31
Tim, I realize it's a pretty insignificant piece, but it sets a bad precedent and should be discouraged. Law or no law, it's simply bad ethics to cut up historic wrecks and sell them on ebay. It shows a blatant disrespect for history, for other divers and for the community. It also encourages others to follow suit. It's certainly shortsighted and not at all worth the few bucks that someone will make from the item. That said, the seller in all likelihood isn't aware that their sale is probably illegal. The recent sale of Dick Race's collection on ebay has created the impression that wreck stripping is legal. Most people don't know that Dick's materials were recovered prior to the passage of laws protecting Great Lakes wrecks. They simply see the artifacts selling for big bucks and decide that they should be able to cash in too. One minor sale of some rusty junk may not be a big deal, but it all adds up. The next time you're at a dive show, take a look at the age of the Great Lakes wreckdiving crowd. There are few under 40 and almost none under 30. Could it be that there's just not much left on the wrecks to look at anymore?