Ferry service to the Lake Erie islands from the Cleveland area should be in operation by the Independence Day this summer. So far two companies have submitted individual bids of selling a boat to the Lorain Port Authority, and the authority's board will vote within a week on which bid to accept.

The 98-foot high-speed boat will be operated by Put-in-Bay Boat Line Co. out of Lorain, which is about 25 miles west of Cleveland. It will be able to carry up to 149 passengers and crews, and will make the 70-minute trips both to and from the islands once per day on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.