Marc Tremblay, a diver from Baie-Comeau, discovered the shipwreck on December 24, 1994 in Anse aux Bouleaux, a cove in front of his cottage, as he was about to pull in the mooring lines of his boat. After contacting Marc-André Bernier, a Parks Canada archaeologist in Ottawa, Marc Tremblay returned to the site of the discovery with another diver, Ange-Albert Gauthier. There they made a video of the archaeological remains, which they immediately sent to Ottawa.
In January 1995, Marc-André Bernier went to Anse aux Bouleaux with divers Marc Tremblay, Ange-Albert Gauthier and Patrice Deschênes to take emergency action. The expedition, which lasted two days, was aimed at protecting the site's most vulnerable parts and finding clues that would help to identify and date the ship. To obtain an archaeological research permit, Marc-André Bernier and his colleagues contacted Jean-René Breton, cultural officer of the ministère de la Culture et des Communications for the North Shore administrative region.
Condition of the shipwreck
The wreck lay on a bed of sand and rocks at a depth of less than 2 metres (5-6 feet) at low tide. It must have been completely buried in sand for many years because it was unknown to local divers. Storms in the fall of 1994 probably moved the sand and exposed part of the vessel. On the basis of the first finds associated with the wreck, the archaeologists dated it from the late 17th century or early 18th century.
On account of its location in shallow water, the wreck was especially vulnerable. Moreover, the site was subject to constant erosion by sand and other material shifting on the river bottom. However, ice posed the most serious threat. There was a risk that large sections of the site would be carried away when the ice broke up in spring.
According to initial measurements, the site seemed to cover an area of about 10 metres by 4 metres. Several objects, such as cooking-pots, firearms, axes, bottles, bricks and so forth, were visible at the surface. The ship's framing timbers could also be seen. All objects in danger of being displaced by wave action were removed, while sandbags were placed on sections of the vessel that might be affected or even dislodged by floating ice.
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