Treasure Ship Found
Awesome but very sad too.
From the
Halifax Nova Scotia Daily News:
Ship’s secrets up for grabs
Filmmaker wants to record historic Fantome before she’s raked for treasure
A documentary filmmaker says he should be allowed to film an historic shipwreck before treasure hunters damage the site.
John Wesley Chisholm, president of Halifax-based Arcadia Entertainment, said the province is permitting treasure hunters to visit the resting place of HMS Fantome.
"What we’re asking for is that the province shut down the treasure-trove licence and the Treasure Trove Act altogether, because it’s an anachronism and just doesn’t make sense in a modern age," said Chisholm.
Chisholm wants his application for a heritage research permit fast-tracked. He applied Monday under the Special Places Act.
Treasure hunters can take what they like from shipwrecks. After getting a permit under the Treasure Trove Act, they pay 10 per cent in royalties to the government and then sell the artifacts as they wish.
"So it’s not beyond reason to have this kind of stuff end up on EBay in partnership with the government of Nova Scotia," Chisholm said.
And the treasure in question:
He said the Fantome was loaded with loot from the White House, which British troops burned in August 1814. The ship was heading home to Halifax with a convoy when it lost its way in a vicious storm.
Emphasis mine -- WOW! An awesome find but I worry that the treasure-hunters will destroy through ignorance artifacts that are "less valuable" to them but have significant historical value. I am surprised that the USA has not asked Canada to hold off for a bit...
Posted by DaveH at November 16, 2005 10:14 PM