MOTORS BANNED IN ALGONQUIN PARK by Ralph Bice

From February 1, 1978

A few weeks back there was an announcement from the Ministry of Natural Resources that this summer the ruling to prohibit the use of outboard motors in Algonquin Park would be in effect for the open water season of 1978. This ruling had been suggested three year ago but due to pressure from many parts of Ontario it was not adopted.

There are a few exceptions. For the early part of the fishing season there are some lakes where a fairly small motor can be used, but this only until late in June. The lakes are larger lakes and will save a lot of paddling for the early fishermen. None of these lakes are on the western side of the park so it is to be expected that there will be a lot less fishermen than in previous years going in from the Kearney area.

The idea is not new. Twenty-five years ago when outboard motors were beginning to be popular and more entry roads going in to the Park several groups suggested that there be a curb on such power driven craft as it surely in a few years would make serious inroads into the fishing in the small glacial lakes which make up Algonquin Park. It seemed that the men in charge had an idea that those lakes could never be fished out. Even before motors became a bone of contention it had been suggested by the guides that the catch on some of the small lakes, especially near the hotels where the fishing pressure was very heavy, should be controlled. They were given the usual brush off. How could men working in the woods know anything about fishing and lakes compared to people who were trained in universities miles away?

But there were many objections made about motors in the interior of the Park. Not only for the fact that more fish were being taken but most objected to the noise that spoiled the tranquility and solitude of lakes that were well away from the usual travel.

At a meeting in Pembroke where park policy was being suggested by the recreational committee (this in the late fifties) a letter was read from a very upset fisherman. In fact, the letter was signed by four men. This group had travelled by paddling and portaging from Joe Lake all the way to Lake Lamuire. This they had done before. They did not mind the two days hard going, just as long as they could be back where it was quiet. They arrived just before noon, pitched camp on the island and decided they should have a snooze before they went fishing. Their sleep was short as they were awakened by the sound of a large outboard. Emerging from the tent they were surprised and more than a little disgusted to see a large boat with a very heavy motor coming down the lake towing two water skiers. Somehow or other they had been allowed to use a lumber road to get in. So, instead of a quiet week, they were constantly listening to this big motor as it careened around the lake.

Some of the reasons advanced by many who want to use a motor are logical. Especially since so many have gotten used to a motor when they went fishing. Too many have only a weekend and it saves a lot of work. But for many years people went fishing and travelled when outboard motors were unknown. Perhaps people had more time then but part of the pleasure of a trip was to get well back where it was quiet. And of course the only way to go was by paddling and portaging.

I talked to a group when it was first announced that eventually the use of outboard motors in the park interior would be banned. They were quite indignant. One even went so far as to state he was planning a trip to Lamuire and Hogan’s Lakes and now would not be able to make it. I asked if he ever thought about paddling and the idea horrified him. I told him I had been on these lakes many times, also a lot of other lakes, and always went by canoe.

It is not so many years ago that some of the younger men who liked to go fishing used to leave after work on Friday, paddle and portage all the way to Lake Lamuire. They would have only a few hours fishing and be back in time for work Monday morning.

I have noticed in the Hunter and Angler magazine that the reports from Zone 4, which is the territory on the eastern side of Algonquin Park, is very much opposed to the ruling that will be enforced this summer. There even was an article showing that there was more pollution from the trees growing there than from all the outboards. It is going to be very interesting to see how the fishing public reacts when the season starts.

Most objections of those with whom I have talked and wanted the motors banned were the noise. Second would be that it made fishing too easy and this point has been proven by the way the fishing has been depleted the last few years. The fishing is so low it may take years to bring it back. From a financial angle we are going to be hurt the most. The last few years most of our small business has been renting boats and motors. Now this will be out. Too, the only parties I have guided that last few years depend on boats and I doubt if they want to go back to canoes. For those who must have a boat there are still lakes where they can be used. And it most certainly would be nice for those who still use a canoe to be able to be on a lake where it is quiet.

There will be no outboard motors on the two most popular lakes east of Kearney, Butt and McCraney. At the close of the season we will be able to tell how it has affected the fishing and perhaps note the many complaints which no doubt there will be.

One thing has to be remembered. The Ministry is doing what they think is best to preserve the Park so it can be as much as possible like the men who first planned and expected it to be. And while there will be a great deal of dissent from those who are accustomed to their boats there are many more who like to travel by canoe and so the majority will  be pleased.

I will predict that in a few years when people get back to canoes they too will realize that to be back where it is quiet is even better than catching a lot of fish.

AN ASIDE by B.M.

Circa 1975 Mel Boland passed a petition around the staff room at North Hastings High School against the motor ban. Mel told of fishing from a motorized canoe in The Park with his daughter. At one point a bull moose took exception to Mel’s presence and charged through the water directly at his craft. In a panic to escape Mel could not start his mini motor until he realized it was not in neutral. A Physics teacher Mel was a great story teller and his students loved to get him off topic and onto some story. Such as the time he worked in the north planting hydro poles. The challenge, apparently, was that digging in muskeg was akin to digging in sand. As soon as you removed the shovel the hole filled in. So, according to Mel, the poles were suspended above their desired location, a charge of dynamite set off, and before the hole could fill in the pole was released to set in the hole.

True Tale – With my NHHS Outters Club, during our annual spring canoe trip into The Park, we were camped on Big Trout Lake when a camper sounded the alarm of a fire at the other end of the lake. Glen Watson and I set out in our 16 foot canoe to check it out to ascertain if we were in any danger. During our trip we passed a motorized Sportspal canoe – much to the shock of the fishermen in it who also were heading for the fire. The harder one paddled a Sportspal the greater the resistance and the slower the progress.

An MNR fire crew from Whitney flew in and put out that fire. They remained vigilant for days after as the fire had spread through the root system.