[2] Fishing activity has been observed on the Bruce Peninsula as far back as 1000 BC, in the Archaic period.

[3] In the Late Woodland period, there is evidence for both Algonquian and Iroquoian peoples being present and fishing in the area.

[7] Local factors of the Hudson's Bay Company at La Cloche Island[a] also made records of it, and trading activity began to occur in 1818 at the mouth of the Saugeen River.

[13] In 1834, Macgregor was displaced by the Niagara Fishing Company (in which William "Tiger" Dunlop was a part owner),[14] which secured the sole licence for the Islands.

"[1]: 140 In 1968, the title to 89 of the smaller islands in the group, totalling 10.1 hectares (25 acres) in area, was returned to Chippewa control.