The lives and activities of Tobermory's residents have always centered around boats and the two, fine harbors of Big Tub and Little Tub. Its strategic location has made Tobermory a port of refuge for canoe, mackinaw boat, schooner, steamer and yacht. The harbors have also provided an ideal base of operations to fleets of fishing tugs, the Manitoulin car ferries, guide boats, dive tugs and tour boats.
Tobermory's harbors and the waters offshore were partially surveyed in 1815 by the British Navy Admiral William Fitzwilliam Owen aboard the schooner Huron. In 1818 his successor, Lieutenant Henry Bayfield, completed the task aboard the vessels Troughton and Ramsden. Bayfield's assistant was midshipman Philip E. Collins, and so, on Bayfield's chart of 1822 Tobermory was named Collins Harbor. However, by 1850 it was being called Tobermory by Scottish immigrants from the Goderich area who had begun fishing around the tip of the Bruce Peninsula. They were no doubt reminded of Tobermory, Scotland.
Tobermory's first permanent settler, Charles Earl, arrived with his family aboard the schooner Nee-Chee in 1871. Big Tub Harbor was already in heavy use by vessels seeking shelter so Earl fastened a lantern atop a tree to guide them in. Big Tub lighthouse was built in 1855 and Earl was appointed keeper. In 1881 iron rings and hooks, which can still be seen, were attached to the shoreline of Big Tub to aid mooring vessels.
By the time Charles Earl arrived, the fishermen from Goderich and Southampton areas had been joined by fishermen from the Meaford area. Both groups fished from small, open centerboard sailboats but it seems the Georgian Bay fishermen preferred the traditional, double-ended Mackinaw boat over the square-sterned version used by the Lake Huron men. Both groups maintained fishing stations on nearby islands including Flowerpot and Halfmoon, where they salted and barreled their catches of laketrout. During the 1880's the fishing stations moved to Tobermory and the steam fish tug made its appearance.
Both harbors were bustling during the late 1880's-90's. Coastal steamers like the Telegram, J. H. Jones and the City of Grand Rapids called regularly, bringing new settlers and supplies, and leaving with ice-packed catches of fish, or loads of Bruce Peninsula pine.
Three sawmills were in operation around Little Tub Harbor by 1900. Booms of logs cut from the then plentiful forests of the northern Bruce Peninsula were towed by steam tugs to Tobermory where they were square sawn and loaded onto schooners and steamers bound for the lower lakes.
Logging activity declined during the 1920's and fishing again became the mainstay of the local economy. By 1930 there were fifteen steam tugs operating out of Tobermory but by the end of the decade over fishing and the lamprey eel caused the catches to dwindle. Presently there are five fishing boats in Tobermory bringing in moderate catches of whitefish and chub.
During the 1930's, the famous Tobermory fleet of guide boats began to develop. the 10 to 15 meter long wooden cabin cruisers carried hunters and fishermen on week long trips to the north shore of Georgian Bay and the North Channel above Manitoulin Island. At the height of their popularity in the late forties there were 25 such boats in Tobermory. Almost all were built locally by their owners.
A very important chapter of Tobermory's maritime history concerns the Tobermory to Manitoulin Island ferry service. It began operation in 1930 with the 27 meter long Kagawong. She ran one trip a day carrying up to eight cars. Two years later the 38 meter Normac took over and stayed on until 1963. The 61 meter, 50 car Norisle, built in Collingwood ran from 1946 to 1974. The Norgoma carried 38 vehicles and worked with the Norisle from 1962 to 1974 when they were both replaced by the 140 car Chi-Cheemaun. The 111 meter long Chi-Cheemaun (meaning 'big canoe' in Ojibway), was also built in Collingwood. For two years, 1991 and 1992, the 97 meter long Nindawayma helped the Chi-Cheemaun on the Tobermory to Manitoulin ferry service during the months of July and August.
Whether you are riding a tour boat, scuba diving, or just watching the fish tugs and yachts come and go, Tobermory offers an exceptional opportunity to see and experience the Great Lakes maritime heritage.