Yellowknife (Aug 20/03) - The body of Hay River fisherman James Stevenson, missing since last Friday, was recovered near Wool Bay and brought to shore by divers Tuesday.

James Stevenson went missing Aug. 15. His body was found Tuesday near Wool Bay. - photo courtesy of RCMP

While waiting for a search boat to arrive at the government dock in Old Town, RCMP Sgt. Steve McVarnock said the body was to be taken to the Stanton Territorial Hospital morgue for further investigation.

"My understanding is the body was located in the vicinity of where (Stevenson) was initially reported missing," said McVarnock.

The body was found by commercial divers in about eight metres of water.

NWT Chief Coroner Percy Kinney said it's too early to say what the cause of death was.

"Preliminary results of the post-mortem are usually in the next day, they may or may not be definitive -- it depends on what they find.

"The final autopsy report usually takes about 10 to 12 weeks," Kinney said.

The three-person team from Arctic Divers searched the waters for "any clues or evidence that may help us understand what happened to Mr. Stevenson," RCMP Inspector Paul Richards said.

During the four-day search, a six-member ground search and rescue team, coast guard auxiliary boat operators, and people who knew Stevenson searched the islands and the lake.

"Search and rescue (DND) helped co-ordinate the auxiliary and other activities," Richards said.

"Fisheries and Oceans had a boat in the area Friday and volunteered to help look."

Over the weekend, trained divers from the Yellowknife fire department helped search the water.

"They were commissioned directly by the RCMP," said deputy fire chief Clem St. Croix.

"They were requested privately and are not (diving) on behalf of the fire department."

Stevenson, 42, was last seen aboard a commercial fishing vessel near Post Island on Wool Bay, 10 kilometres west of Yellowknife on Great Slave Lake.

The fishing crew left Hay River Thursday night and docked at Richardson's camp on Post Island. When the crew got up at 6 a.m. Friday, they found he wasn't there, according to Richards.

They reported him missing when they arrived in Yellowknife early in the afternoon.

Those who knew him said he was a strong swimmer.

Hopes were raised on Friday when police had reports Stevenson was seen in town.