ported winds at thirty-five knots and waves at ten feet ("Marine Accident Report") . Later on at 1:00 p.m. the storm had crossed Lake Superior to the west of Michipicoten Island and was over White River, Ontario. The NWS again predicted at 4:39 p.m. Eastern Lake Superior with Northwest winds 38 to 52 knots with gusts to 60 knots with waves eight to sixteen feet. The Anderson, which was following the Fitzgerald, reported at 7:00 p.m. winds at fifty knots and waves at sixteen feet. These were the weather reports before the downing of the Fitzgerald.
             After the tragic event an NWS meteorologist testified saying before the Fitzgerald sank the average sustained wind speed was forty-five knots from the northwest for a period of six to seven hours("Marine Casualty Report" 11) . With these winds they would produce waves with an average height if fifteen feet.
             Since it was first commissioned it was capable of performing 45-50 trips a year. Over the years of all the trips the Fitzgerald was put through a lot of wear and tear. Between the years of 1969 and 1970 it ran aground near the Soo
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