JUST SOME FAULT FINDING by Ralph Bice
From June 1, 1977
At this time of the year, even with the mosquitoes and flies, perhaps we should just think about how nice it is to have winter put away for a few months and not disagree with anything or anybody. But some times things happen, or there is something printed in the paper, and things turn sour in a hurry.
One thing I have been bothered about the last few years is why so many do not put any significance in a private sign or lock. So many times you find a camp broken into and things missing. We know that such action is not restricted to any one area as there is much reported in the news. A lot is supposedly done by natives but my gripes are against holiday people from the southern parts who think that there is nothing wrong with breaking into a camp and using it.
Last winter, during the New Year’s break, a group of men and boys took a trip in to Rain Lake where some of them had been in the summer. They had planned on using an old box car for shelter and were going to try and see a few birds and enjoy a few days in the snow. Only thing, their plans did not work too well. It was late afternoon when they left their cars and still had a six mile walk, pulling toboggans quite heavily loaded with their equipment. They did make more than half way and then realized they were not going to make it, so broke into a hunting camp and bedded down for the night. Next day two got their feet wet, so could not go on staying in the camp. I talked to them and they told me they would leave everything as they found it. But what did surprise me was that no one thought anything wrong had been done, even when there were ‘no trespass signs’. I do not think they took anything and I guess they were in a tight spot but again it is lack of planning, not to mention lack of knowhow in the woods. Just what they would have done if there had not been a camp I do not know. And again, it was their attitude that seemed out of place.
Last spring I happened to be passing another camp, this one well kept and posted. There was a tent stretched and a party of two had decided that it would be a nice place to camp for a few days. They too thought it was quite alright to camp near a private camp as it was in the north and nothing mattered. They were quite offended when asked to move on.
Just yesterday I went to Rain Lake with a party. We managed to be on the lake when it was raining quite heavily and there was a northwest wind blowing right in our face. When we got to camp there was a canoe at the dock and we found a party had pried off a screen, opened a window and were in out of the cold and wet. They too thought it was the thing to do as one of their party was not feeling well and they did not want to paddle back down the lake. They had their luggage, etc. inside, and no doubt would have stayed there if we had not arrived. Again nothing was missing and again it was their attitude about camps in the woods that surprised me.
Seems not so long ago we never bothered to lock camps in the woods. But people have changed. Wonder what it will be like in another ten years? Often wonder, since these camps are built on land for which the camp owner pays both lease and property tax. If the reverse was to happen and some of us from the woods broke into a house in the city? People get stranded there too you know.
I did mention last week an editorial wherein the writer wanted to change the name of our May 24th holiday. That still ranks, but not much more than some letters we see suggesting very strongly that we become a republic and others referring to the Queen as the monarch of a foreign country. If there are people who do not like Canada and our way of life there are many methods of transportation that will enable them to get out and we would be well rid of them. After all Canada was conceived and built by hard working persons who had a vision. We can get nowhere with dissenters.
There is a magazine and it is strictly Ontario. Last issue there was a story about Almaguin South. Naturally, I was much interested. The writer, Norman Hollingsworth, tells his readers that Almaguin South goes from Emsdale to Sundridge. So very wrong. Almaguin South, and I am perhaps the only original member, starts at Novar and goes to Katrine, taking in Kearney, Sand and Clam Lake areas, and Sprucedale. The writer does not mention Novar nor Clear Lake and Clear Lake has perhaps more small resorts than any other lake. He does not say from Kearney there are two roads going into Algonquin Park, though he talks a lot about Algonquin Park.
The obvious conclusion is that the person who supplied the information has little knowledge of the area, or is very biased, or maybe both. But it is not nice to see a story that is so inaccurate. Especially since it is our area.
Plenty of people still going into the woods even with bugs at their peak and the ‘no open fire’ regulation on. Saturday I saw two young couples starting out and it was raining. They were not fishing, just going to travel. They must be fond of camping. When the fish are biting flies do not mean a thing but for just camping, well, I would pick a nicer period.
Bice Country by Y.T.
A friend, now a retired Crown Attorney, was a neophyte attorney when instructed to fill in for the vacationing Crown Attorney, Doug Bice, in northern Ontario. Upon introductions he was informed that he was now in ‘Bice Country’ and if a case ever came before my friend of a break-in of a hunt camp then the punishment must be severe. No wrist slapping as might occur elsewhere.