Tug of war over shipwreck off Dunkirk

BUFFALO, NY - A legal tug-of-war over a sunken 19th-century Lake Erie schooner continues in Buffalo.

Lawyers for New York state and a group of shipwreck hunters were in federal court Thursday disputing the rights to the vessel foundin 170 feet of water about 20 miles off the western New York coast.

There was no immediate action from the judge.

Northeast Research of Massachusetts found the schooner and wantsto raise and preserve it for display on Buffalo's waterfront. But the state says it owns the vessel and its general policy is toleave sunken ships where they lie.

A magistrate judge in May found in favor of the state. Northeastis challenging that judge's findings to a district judge, who afterhearing oral arguments Thursday, could send the issue to trial.