Massena, NY, Mar 23, 2012 — Another sign of spring came yesterday (Thursday), as the St. Lawrence Seaway officially opened to shipping for its 54th season. The Thousand Islands saw its first ship of the season before the opening, on Wednesday. The Missisagi winters in Hamilton, Ontario, so it didn't need to pass through any locks to get to Prescott.

The Seaway opening also means it's the start of ship watching season in the Thousand Islands. Mike Folsom blogs at the ship watcher dot com. He says it was like winter never came this year, and there was hardly any ice to break to open the water up for the big freighters. Yesterday afternoon, he told Nora Flaherty ships were already on the move up the river.