Additional information courtesy of Christine Simm and Birgir Þórisson

Technical

Official Number: 113740
Yard Number: 639
Completed: 1900
Gross Tonnage 185
Net Tonnage: 73
Length: 116.0
Breadth: 21.1 ft
Depth: 11.0 ft
Built: Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, North Shields
Engine: 375ihp T.3-cyl and boiler by North-Eastern Marine Engineering Co Ltd, Sunderland

History

27.8.1900: Launched by Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, North Shields (Yd.No.639) for Boston Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Boston as INDIAN.
10.1900: Completed.
14.11.1900: Registered at Boston (BN90). Fred Donnison designated manager.
15.2.1901: At Boston the Mayor, Alderman Simond, presented a pair of binocular glasses to Sk. Arthur Munyer, formerly skipper of the steam trawler ETRURIAN (BN85) and now of the INDIAN, in recognition of his bravery in rescuing three of the crew of the Maryport registered brigantine BESSIE WHINERAY (153grt/1865). On passage London for West Hartlepool, eight crew all told, cargo 250 tons of iron ore. Within five miles of her destination a gale set in, increasing in force the master decided to stand off the coast. On the following day the sails were blown away and with heavy seas shipped, the vessel opened up and started to leak. Two pumps were manned but they became choked and unusable. On 4th August when some 15 miles E of Spurn the order was given to abandon and the boat was launched. With the crew in the boat the brigantine plunged by the head, overturning the still attached boat, and foundered. The captain and four of the crew were swept away and drowned and the other three got clear and clung to the keel of the upturned boat. The steam trawler ETRURIAN (BN85) came upon them and by the skilful seamanship of Sk. Munyer, the three men were taken onboard.
22.3.1901: At Peterhead landed a splendid shot of 200 boxes.
14.12.1901: At Boston landed from a Faroe trip of 19 days (Sk. Reynolds), the catch realising £180.
16.12.1901: Outwards for the fishing grounds stranded on the Long Sands.
17.12.1901: Following a big flood and assisted by The Eastern Sea Fisheries Joint Committee patrol steamer PROTECTOR (161grt/1904), refloated and with no damage found, proceeded to sea. When about 160 miles from land lost her rudder. A jury rudder was rigged and course set for home.
21.12.1901: Arrived off The Wash and assisted into port by the steam trawler SALMON (BN41).
1902: Sold to Boston Deep Sea Fishing & Ice Co Ltd, Boston.
7.1.1903: Arrived Boston from a Faroe trip (Sk. Reynolds) of 23 days with exceedingly rough weather and only able to fish for six days.
2.2.1903: Arrived Boston from a Faroe trip (Sk. Reynolds) of 24 days, again with very rough weather. The catch realised £220.
28.2.1903: Arrived Boston from a Faroe trip (Sk. Reynolds), reported once again severe weather and approaching Faroe the wheelhouse roof and compass was lost and the Third hand, Burton, who was on the wheel had his nose broken; a trawl was also lost. The trawler was navigated for eighteen days by following the track of other vessels.
2.3.1903: Landed after 23 days, 130 score of cod and 160 kits, haddock and soles, realising £190.
30.5.1903: Arrived Boston from Iceland grounds (Sk. Petterson) after a trip of 20 days.
1.6.1903: Landed 450 kits which realised £88, her salt fish catch had been landed at Kirkwall realising £114.
29.1.1906: James Scott (30), labourer of no fixed abode was spotted by a fishing apprentice in the forecastle. With the manager and ship’s husband he was apprehended.
30.1.1906: At Boston Borough Police Court, Scott was charged with loitering on Boston Dock with intent to commit a felony. Pleaded guilty and sentenced to two months imprisonment with hard labour.
11.7.1906: William Avery (17), fishing apprentice was charged under the Merchant Shipping Act with disobeying the lawful commands of the skipper to join the trawler. The defendant said he wanted to join the WITHAM (BN171). Avery had previously been convicted and he was given one month imprisonment with hard labour.
2.9.1908: Outwards for the fishing grounds, on passing the Boston steam tug SPRAY (58grt/1897) there was a steering gear failure and stranded in the river near the Rifle Butts. Refloated on the evening tide and having sustained no damage proceed to the North Sea grounds.
1909: Thomas D. Donaldson designated manager.
11.6.1909 Arrived Boston from an Iceland trip (Sk. Eggers) and reported that the steward, Charles Nixon had died from an internal complaint and had been landed for burial at Kirkwall.
26.11.1909: At Alford, Lincolnshire Petty Sessions, Sk. George Smalley, Lincoln was charged with using an otter trawl off Chapel St Leonards, Lincolnshire on Friday 5th November within territorial waters and only one mile off the coast where many longshore fishermen had lines set. When stopped by The Eastern Sea Fisheries Joint Committee patrol steamer PROTECTOR, Smalley stated that it was hazy and he was unsure of his position. Other evidence was produced and the Bench convicted and imposed a fine of £15 with costs.
1910: Fishing out of Fleetwood (Fred Donnison, Fleetwood managing agent).
26.8.1910: At Fleetwood landed 172 boxes.
14.10.1910: At Fleetwood landed 140 boxes.
2-5.1911: Along with Boston trawlers HUNGARIAN (BN59), FISHTOFT (BN94) and ANGERTON (BN92) on charter to Bookless Brothers Ltd, Aberdeen/Sheffield fishing out of Hafnarfjörður, Iceland.
1912: Daniel Walker designated manager.
22.8.1914: Fishing in the North Sea (Sk. James Henry Royal). Captured and sunk (officially fate listed as “unknown”) by German torpedo boats in North Sea, along with FLAVIAN (BN86), and JULIAN (BN89). Crews interned for duration of war.
9.1914: Boston registry closed.
27.2.1915: Reported that Ch. Eng G. Christian interned at Paderborn, Germany had died.
8.1.1918: At Boston, 632 prisoners landed on their return from Ruhlebon and other German internment camps, amongst them sixteen fishermen including Charles Walkerley skipper of the JULIAN.

Changelog
04/07/2021: Page published.