According to Scott, some sources posit that the name comes from a naval practice that
required repaired naval vessels at
Esquimalt to complete a “trial run” around the islands to test their seaworthiness.
1 However, Scott claims that this origin is likely false, due to the fact that the
name appears on charts that antecede the construction of the repair facilities at
Esquimalt Harbour.
2 A more likely inception of the name comes from the difficulty with which a vessel
rounds the Trial Islands—which represents a “trial” of a captain's skills.
3 The Trial Islands are the home to a number of wrecks; as well, many individuals have
perished in the rough seas around the islands' shores.
4