Snagboats - Murray river

[Dennis Kerr]

G'day,

There are pictures around of the PS "Industry" a snagging boat owned and
operated by the South Australian government. This vessel looked muich like
your usual Murray River sidewheeler wioth the exception of a large swinging
derrick on the foredeck and I believe was operating well into the 1900's.

The river red gums that lined the river were a dense wood that was used for
the construction of paddleboat hulls but also was so dense that the fallen
trees would sink and cause obstructions. Some logs would have almost neutral
buoyancy and float down under the surface. It was most disconcerting to be
"poking" along a nice deep stretch the river enjoying the day when a
god-almighty bang and lurch would announce that your floats had hit one of
these "crocodiles". Then it was into the riverbank, damaged float bashing
and clunking, dingy launched, "U" bolts undone broken float removed and a
new float attached."Appropriate technology", you cannot repair a broken
propellor without drydocks etc.

Hope this is usefull.

Denis.