The steamboat ''Daily'' operated in the early 1900s as part of the Puget Sound Mosquito Fleet. In later years, ''Daily'' was renamed ''Island Princess'' and later ''Cy Peck''.

Construction

''Daily'' was built in 1913 by Matthew McDowell at his yard at Caledonia, near Tacoma. ''Daily'' was one of the larger vessels built by Captain McDowell, 116' long, 25' on the beam, 8' depth of hold and rated at 254 tons.Turner, Robert D., ''The Pacific Princesses'', at 109-110, 136, 236, Sono Nis Press, Victoria, BC 1977 ''Daily'' was the seventh Puget Sound passenger and freight vessel built by Captain McDowell. ''Daily'' was a classic example of a mixed-used Puget Sound mosquito fleet vessel, as shown by photos published and drawings prepared by Professor Turner.

Operations

''Daily'' was placed on the Seattle-Tacoma route, running via points on Vashon and Maury islands.Newell, Gordon R., ed., ''H.W. McCurdy Marine History of the Pacific Northwest'', at 208, 297, 613, Superior Publishing, Seattle, WA 1966

Sale to Canadian Pacific Railway

In 1918, ''Daily'' was sold to the coastal service of the

Canadian Pacific Railway The Canadian Pacific Railway (french: Chemin de fer Canadien Pacifique) , also known simply as CPR or Canadian Pacific and formerly as CP Rail (1968–1996), is a Canadian Class I railway incorporated in 1881. The railway is owned by Canadi ...

, who renamed her ''Island Princess''. CPR put her in the

Gulf Islands The Gulf Islands are a group of islands in the Salish Sea between Vancouver Island and the mainland coast of British Columbia. Etymology The name "Gulf Islands" comes from "Gulf of Georgia," the original term used by George Vancouver in his ma ...

service, where she made a significant improvement. She was the smallest vessel in the CPR Fleet. ''Island Princess'' (ex ''Daily'') ran for CPR from 1918 to 1930. She served points on North Pender, South Pender, Mayne, Galiano, and Saltspring Islands.

Sale to Gulf Islands Ferry Co.

CPR’s Gulf Island service was proving successful, so Captain Troup, the head of CPR’s steamship division, decided to replace ''Island Princess'' with the old CPR steamer ''Charmer'' in 1927. Unlike ''Island Princess'', ''Charmer'' had been rebuilt to carry automobiles. In 1930, CPR sold ''Island Princess'' to the Gulf Islands Ferry Company which renamed her ''Cy Peck'' after British Columbia war hero and politician

Cyrus Wesley Peck Cyrus Wesley Peck & Bar (26 April 1871 – 27 September 1956) was a Canadian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. Peck was one of the ...

. Unfortunately but probably inevitably the new owners rebuilt her to carry automobiles.

Later career

''Cy Peck'' (ex ''Island Princess'' ex ''Daily'') must have been a well-built boat, as she was still in regular operation in British Columbia waters (on the

Fulford Harbour Fulford Harbour is a residential community on the southeast side of Salt Spring Island, British Columbia, located near the island's southern end. Fulford Harbour is the site of a BC Ferries terminal with regular ferry service to Swartz Bay, Britis ...

Swartz Bay Swartz Bay, located on the north end of the Saanich Peninsula on Vancouver Island, is primarily known for being the location of one of BC Ferries' main terminals, the Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal. Swartz Bay was named after John Aaron Swart, purchas ...

crossing) as late as 1956. In 1961,

BC Ferries British Columbia Ferry Services Inc., operating as BC Ferries (BCF), is a former provincial Crown corporation, now operating as an independently managed, publicly owned Canadian company. BC Ferries provides all major passenger and vehicle ferry ...

purchased the ''Cy Peck'' along with other Gulf Island ferries, keeping her as a relief vessel at Fulford Harbour. In 1966, she was sold to J.H. Todd & Sons for use as a floating fishing camp. In 1975, she was reported still extant in private use on

Saltspring Island Salt Spring Island or Saltspring Island is one of the Gulf Islands in the Strait of Georgia between mainland British Columbia, Canada, and Vancouver Island. The island was initially inhabited by various Salishan peoples before being settled by ...

at the town of

Ganges The Ganges ( ) (in India: Ganga ( ); in Bangladesh: Padma ( )). "The Ganges Basin, known in India as the Ganga and in Bangladesh as the Padma, is an international river to which India, Bangladesh, Nepal and China are the riparian states." is ...

. A replica of the ship's wheelhouse can be found on the Ganges waterfront.

Notes

External links

Historic image from collection of the University of Washington

''Daily'' on Puget Sound
This is a classic image of this small steamer, probably taken for publicity purposes. The vessel in typical steamboat style, carries a pennant with her name ''Daily'' flying from the masthead. The boat, built for almost exclusively passenger service, shows a large number of windows on all decks.

Historic images from B.C. Provincial Archives

''Island Princess'' (ex ''Daily''), excellent image from starboard bow
''Daily'' must have been reconstructed when acquired by CPR, as the pilot house was moved down from the boat deck to the passenger deck to approximately where the forward passenger cabin had been. The Texas (the small cabin structure on the boat deck just behind the pilot house) was completely removed, and there appears to have been a cargo boom added to the mast, indicating a change in use from passenger to mixed passenger and freight.
''Island Princess''
This photo shows the vessel backing away from a landing, as can be seen by the wake in front of the bow, rather than the stern, as would of course be the case if the vessel were moving forward.
''Island Princess'', good profile image
This photograph should be compared with the photo of the ''Daily'' in Puget Sound service, the differences in the vessel at these two times of service can be readily seen.
''Island Princess'' approaching a landing in Vancouver Harbor
This photograph shows the passengers gathered on the forward passenger deck getting ready to disembark. A net is hanging over the side of the boat, this is a safety net that will be rigged under the gangplank to prevent people who might fall off the plank from landing in the water. {{DEFAULTSORT:Island Princess (1913) Steamboats of Washington (state) Propeller-driven steamboats of Washington (state) 1913 ships Passenger ships of the United States Passenger ships of Canada Steamships of Canada Ships of CP Ships History of British Columbia Ships of BC Ferries