Shack Ahoy!

Going, going! What appears to be an ice hut is slowly sinking through the ice on Lake Nipissing across from the city's water treatment plant.

It’s been nearly three weeks since ice huts were to be brought off the ice on Lake Nipissing. The deadline – as set out in the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) Fishing Regulations Summary – was March 31st.

However a drive down North Bay’s Memorial Drive across from the water treatment plant entrance gives clear indication that someone didn’t get their hut off in time. What appears to be a wooden shack is almost through the ice about 100 metres out.

Sources tell baytoday that some ONR employees have a bet going on when the hut will go through the ice.

The MNR states that the minimum fine for leaving a hut on the ice is about $200. That’s not including any costs incurred by the MNR or other agencies that end up retrieving it from the lake. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans could get involved as well. With the boating season about a couple of weeks away, the submerged hut could pose a hazard to boaters.

If the hut doesn’t sink it will probably get washed up on shore once the ice is out. Ice on Lake Nipissing is usually gone by late April or the first week in May. MNR conservation officers usually try to track down owners of abandoned ice huts through the registration numbers each hut is required to have.

No numbers are visible on the partially submerged hut.