Michigan Soobies caught minnow-smuggling

NEWS RELEASE

MINISTRY OF NATURAL RESOURCES

************************* Two Michigan men plead guilty to bringing live minnows into Ontario

THESSALON — Two Michigan men have been fined for bringing bait fish into Ontario illegally. The province and several U.S. states have restricted the transfer of live bait fish to slow the spread of viral hemorrhagic septicemia and invasive species.

Andrew Dalgleish, 51, and Derek Myerscough, 37, both of Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, pleaded guilty.

Dalgleish was fined $500 and is banned from fishing in Ontario for two years.

Myerscough was fined $500.

Court was told that on April 21, 2007, the Ontario Provincial Police notified the Ministry of Natural Resources of possible illegal fishing at Brown's Bay near the St. Joseph Channel.

Conservation officers from the Upper Great Lakes Enforcement Unit and Sault Ste. Marie District did a “plain-clothes” operation on the morning of April 22 where they saw several non-resident anglers using live bait to catch yellow perch.

When the officers talked to Dalgleish, he claimed all his minnows came from an Ontario bait store; but most of them were a species and size not sold locally on the Ontario side of the border.

The investigation determined that Dalgleish had entered Ontario by vehicle early that morning and acquired six dozen minnows.

He then transported these minnows back into the United States.

Once in Michigan, he purchased at least 20 dozen shiners and mixed them in with the Ontario bait.

Dalgleish then entered Ontario again by boat, travelling to Brown’s Bay.

When questioned by the officers, he produced an Ontario receipt for a small number of minnows and alleged all the live bait in the vessel originated from Ontario.

Conservation officers seized the minnows. When Myerscough, who was in a different boat, realized there were conservation officers investigating, he dumped his minnows in the bay.

These were not isolated violations.

Conservation officers ticketed five other non-resident anglers for similar offences in the same area.

Justice of the Peace Paula Nichols heard the case in the Ontario Court of Justice, Thessalon, on June 19, 2007.

To report a natural resource violation, call 1-877-TIPS-MNR (847-7667) toll-free any time or contact your ministry office during regular business hours.

You can also call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

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