With gale force winds earlier in the week, the ice on Lake Superior has started to break up. Not melted, but broken. Accordingly, ship traffic is beginning to move. A convoy of 9 ships steamed into the Duluth harbor yesterday afternoon with help from the USCG icebreaker Mackinaw. More are coming soon. However, reports today from NOAA have predicted that there may be ice on the big lake into June. For joy! NOAA also commented that this likely will be a record-breaking year for cold and ice in this region. (Wisconsin fishing opener is tomorrow, but alas, most of the lakes in northern Wisconsin are still frozen. Dittos for Minnesota next week.) David Sorenson Duluth, MN