The May Corgan was a commercial fishing and passenger tug. The May E. Corgan was used for the transfer of lighthouse keeper James Corgan on October 27,1883. "Took my family and effects on board my own tug the May E. Corgan " This is the earliest reference to the Corgan found, if it is indeed the same Corgan. Early on, the Corgan was used to raft logs from the Bad River to the Superior Company's sawmill in Ashland and in 1888 was purchased by the Booth Packing Company to be used in the commercial fishing business.
"The May Corgan of this city (Bayfield), was sunk off Bark Point (Sand Island) last night. While in tow of the T.H.Camp, for Duluth, a severe gale was encountered, the tow line parted, theMay Corrigan sheered and sank in thirty feet of water. The trouble seemed to be, that no one had been put on the Corgan to steer her, so the first wind sheered the boat, it quickly filled, and sank. Both boats belong to the Booth Packing Company, of Bayfield, and have been in the fish business at that place and Washburn for several years. The loss is $10,000." Ashland Weekly Press 12/12/1891. No record of salvage.