S.T. Albatross LL184

Additional information courtesy of Andy Hall and George Westwood

Occasional visitor

Technical

Official Number: 82958
Gross Tonnage: 123
Completed: 1882
Net Tonnage: 84
Length: 101.0 ft
Breadth: 19.0 ft
Depth: 10.3 ft
Built: W. Walker & Co, Deptford
Engine: C.2-cyl by W. J. Lockhead & Co, Glasgow

History

11.1882: Launched by W. Walker & Co, Deptford (Yd.No.) for Robert Middleton (64/64), Leeds, as ALBATROSS.
9.2.1883: Registered at Scarborough (SH37) (Sk.George Bowles). Robert Middleton designated managing owner.
17.2.1883: Completed.
6.11.1884: Owned by Robert Middleton & Stephen Todd Holdroyd, Leeds; Joseph Henry Holdroyd, Leeds and Thos Allen, York.
13.11.1884: Owned by Robert Middleton & Stephen Todd Holdroyd, Leeds; Joseph Henry Holdroyd, Leeds: Thos Allen, York: Wm Holdroyd, Scarborough and William Arthur Mallinson, Leeds. Robert Middleton designated managing owner.
12.11.1884: Owned by Robert Middleton & Stephen Todd Holdroyd, Leeds; Joseph Henry Holdroyd, Leeds; Thos Allen, York; Wm Holdroyd, Scarborough; William Arthur Mallinson, Leeds and William Mallinson (7/64), Huddersfield.
31.12.1884: Owned by Robert Middleton & Stephen Todd Holdroyd, Leeds; Joseph Henry Holdroyd, Leeds; Thos Allen, York; Wm Holdroyd, Scarborough; William Arthur Mallinson, Leeds; William Mallinson (7/64), Huddersfield and Henry Lambie Woodger (6/64), Scarborough.
29.4.1887: Henry L. Woodger shares (6/64) sold to William Woodger, Newcastle.
23.4.1888: At the Mercantile Marine Office, before Mr Cumberland, Collector of Customs, George Reynolds, cook, sued the skipper for wrongful dismissal. On 19th last Reynolds was discharged and the skipper refused to pay him his wages. After hearing evidence Mr Cumberland made an order of 9/4d.
28.11.1888: Ran into Fish Quay at Hartlepool doing considerable damage.
10.3.1891: Sailed Scarborough at 4.30 am. for the fishing grounds. Disabled after boiler manhole cover blew off and lost steam. Returned to Scarborough under sail.
26.4.1892: Sold to George Rookin Nicholson (64/64), Liverpool.
16.5.1892: Scarborough registry closed.
5.1892: Extensive alterations and overhaul. New steam winch by Messrs Rogers & Co, Stockton, new side rollers, dandy scores, raised forward and iron bulwarks fitted all round. New masts and sails. Total cost £800.
5.1892: Registered at Liverpool (LL184).
1892: Sold to “Albatross” Steam Ship Co Ltd (64/64), Liverpool. Henry H. Grayson, Birkenhead designated manager.
18.3.1893: Advertised for sale in the Aberdeen Journal by Frederick Aspinall, Liverpool. Vessel is fully found in every respect with new 200 fathom 3.5” steel wire warps and two full and complete sets of fishing gear. Presently fishing out of Aberdeen.
9.1893: Sold to Robert Knox (64/64), Douglas, IoM.
10.1893: Liverpool registry closed.
2.10.1893: Registered at Douglas (DO246). Robert Knox designated managing owner.
6.11.1894: Trawling off the Bahama Bank (Sk. Edward Shimmin); eight crew in total, in company with LADY LOCH (DO20) (Sk. William Shimmin) some half mile apart. In the early hours about 1.00am. with the skipper at the helm, observed the lights of a steamer bearing down on them. Sounded the steam whistle but unable to manoeuvre with the trawl down. Struck amidships and almost cut in two by the L&Y and L&NWR steamer DUKE of CLARENCE (1489grt/1892), Belfast for Fleetwood and foundered quickly. The skipper gained the forecastle of the steamer by way of the funnel stays and two men were picked up from the water, by boats from the DUKE of CLARENCE. LADY LOCH closed the scene and started to search for other survivors, joined later by steamers MANX QUEEN (989grt/1880) and DUKE of YORK (1473grt/1894). After three hours the search was abandoned; five crewmen unaccounted for, believed drowned. Survivors landed by DUKE of CLARENCE at Fleetwood.
17.11.1894: Douglas registry closed. Wreck lies 9.5 miles SE of Ramsey.
2.1895: In the Admiralty Court a claim for damages in lieu of the loss was heard. The findings were that the master of the DUKE of CLARENCE was at fault in that he failed to post adequate lookouts and disregarded the numerous fishing vessels, some thirty in number, on the fishing grounds. Damages were agreed and John Knox received an undisclosed sum. (ALBATROSS was valued at £2,000 but insured for £12,000). The families of the lost crewmen received: Widows of William Dougherty, Henry Hudson and Richard Gregg – £300 each; the families of Hudson and Gregg received £150 each; the seven children of Dougherty received £250; the father of John Leadbetter received £250.

Lost: William Dougherty, Mate; Henry Hudson, Ch Eng; John Leadbetter and Richard Gregg, Deckhands and Charles Shimmin, nephew of the skipper, son of skipper of Lady Loch, Fireman.
Survivors: Sk. E. Shimmin, R. Kelly, 2nd Eng and Thomas Lawrence.

Click to enlarge image

S.T. Albatross SH37

S.T. Albatross SH37
Picture from The George Scales Collection courtesy of The George Westwood Collection

Changelog

24/11/2018: Page published.
27/11/2018: Image added. Information updated.
13/06/2019: Information updated.

sv Wild Rose FD86

Technical and historical information needed about this vessel. Please contact info@fleetwood-fishing-industry.co.uk

Technical

Net Tonnage: 6
Rig: Cutter/seining

History

24.10.1925: first registered at Fleetwood.
Post 1930: Converted to aux. motor.

Click to enlarge images

sv Wild Rose FD86

sv Wild Rose FD86
Picture courtesy of The George Westwood Collection

Changelog

05/03/2011: Page published.
12/11/2018: Page re-published. Removed FMHT watermark from image.

Of trawlers and poaching

Information courtesy of Birgir Þórisson

Cariama

S.T. CARIAMA GY4

The trawler CARIAMA GY 4, gained some notoriety in Iceland in june 1904, although there were some misconceptions about her name. Most reports using the form CARRY ANNA GY 4. There was also some discrepancy regarding the name of the skipper. It was first reported to be Henry Bascomb (sic!), a brother of the owner, and part-owner in the ship, but later amended to Richard Bascomb (sic!), Henry Bascomb being the owner of the ship.

On June 14th 1904 the local sheriff arrested the ship in Keflavik harbour for illegal trawling, and sentenced the skipper to 100 pounds fine and confiscation of the catch and gear. The ship was fully loaded, having been fishing for days very close to the shore.

The Danish coastguard vessel HEKLA, (a 3rd class cruiser) was nearby, and escorted the trawler to Hafnarfjörður, the residence of the sheriff. What happened next caused a political uproar.
It was originally reported that the sheriff had requested a) armed guard for the trawler from the HEKLA and/or b) that the trawlers machine be disabled, but that the danish captain of the HEKLA had refused assistance.

After the row blew up, the sheriff backtracked, claiming to have just inquired about the possibility of these actions being taken, which the captain of HEKLA had declined, as his vessel was leaving Iceland for the Faroes.

The sheriff had removed the ships papers, and placed four unarmed guards aboard the CARIAMA. The commander of HMS BELLONA, the british “Fishery Protection” cruiser, who was in Reykjavík, was involved in the case, disputing the evidence against the skipper. British authorities had long held that Icelandic eye-witness accounts were worthless. However the examination of the officers of the HEKLA had placed the fishing ground sworn by Icelandic witnesses 2,5 miles inside the 3 mile limit.

On June 18th, a message was received from BELLONA´s commander, summoning the skipper to him in Reykjavík. Later that day, the mate went ashore under the pretext of buying tobacco. After night-fall he returned in a small boat he had stolen, had steam raised, and departed the harbour. The four unarmed guards were overpowered and, outside the harbour, forced into the boat the mate had stolen. It was reported to have been barely big enough for them, and as they had only one oar, they had some difficulty getting ashore, to raise the alarm.

The sheriff hastened to Reykjavík to get hold of the skipper, but it transpired that he had the previous evening gone from the BELLONA aboard another British trawler, which immediately left the harbour.

The impotence of the legal authorities caused an uproar. Both directed against the Danes, (the HEKLA), but also against the local police. Policemen were few, and completely unarmed. The guards placed by the sheriff were just local fishermen, deputised for the occasion.

The demand was raised for accused skippers to be jailed, and that the local police provided with arms, because the British trawlermen had no respect for the law.
However, the only result was that the CARIAMA and her skipper became wanted within Icelandic legal jurisdictions, which may explain Baskcomb´s decision to sell the ship. And the skipper obviously managed to throw up some confusion about his identity.

Notes The clarification; I used the term “sheriff” for the official known in Iceland as “Sýslumaður”, but it does not quite cover the scope of his powers.

The “Sýslumaður” was “the state” within his jurisdiction. The terms goes back to the establishment of royal authority in the 13th century. He held all executive and judicial powers within his jurisdiction. He was both police chief and judge.

This combination remained in force until the European Court of Justice forced the Icelandic state to amend the laws as late as the 1980s!

I used the term “Sheriff” because of lack af a better alternative, “County Commissioner” or “Magistrate” seeming no better. But by using the term “Sheriff” for these officials, who were always university educated lawyers, one is left without a term for the “Hreppstjóri”. These were his deputies, responsible for local law and order, with police authority and executive functions, (but no judicial powers). These local representatives of the state were appointed by the “Sýslumaður”, one in each commune, chosen from among citizens of good stature in the local community. It was a part-time job, usually held for life. It was bothersome, but prestigious, and very few turned down the appointment.

The “Hreppstjóri” would bring charges against trawlers engaged in illegal fishing close to the shore, but usually would not try to arrest them without the presence of the “Sýslumaður”.

Changelog

04/10/2018: Page published.

S.T. Balmedie A113

Additional information courtesy of Andy Hall and David Slinger

Technical

Official Number: 123374
Yard Number: 146
Completed: 1906
Gross Tonnage: 204.66
Net Tonnage: 59.29
Length: 115.35 ft
Breadth: 21.85 ft
Depth: 12.10 ft
Built: Hall, Russell & Co Ltd, Aberdeen
Engine: T.3-cyl by Hall, Russell & Co Ltd, Aberdeen

History

1906: Launched by Hall, Russell & Co Ltd, Aberdeen (Yd.No.146) for The Balgownie Steam Trawl Fishing Co Ltd, Aberdeen as BALMEDIE.
10.1906: Completed.
29.12.1906: Registered at Aberdeen (A113). Andrew Lewis designated manager.
By 1912: Believed fishing out of/landing into Fleetwood.
3.09.1912: In heavy weather and SW strong gale, between The Smalls and Bardsey Island, sighted drifting Admiralty caisson which had broken away from tug MILEWATER (320grt/1888) about 20 miles NNE of The Smalls while on delivery voyage from the yard of Workman, Clark & Co Ltd, Belfast to Portsmouth. Closed and with great difficulty Sk. Andrew Smith managed manoeuvre tand get a line onboard to hold the caisson.
4.9.1912: At about 3.00am. the two man runner crew, exhausted by their experience, requested to be taken off the caisson and a boat transfer was effected with two members of the trawler crew replacing them (one named RILEY). Steam trawler WRENTHORPE (FD80) came on the scene and also got a line onboard and tow was commenced for Holyhead with HM cruiser BRISTOL escorting.
5.9.1912: Tow parted but reconnected.
7.9.1912: Arrived off Holyhead, transferred to tug MILEWATER and placed safely on the Government Buoy in the West Refuge Harbour.
14.11.1912: Salvage awards were made in the Admiralty Court in respect of services rendered to the Admiralty caisson in September. The caisson cost £16,000 to build. BALMEDIE was awarded £600 with a further £45 for the three men who rendered boat services. WRENTHORPE was awarded £530.
1.1.1914: Tonnage altered to 81.52net under provision of Merchant Shipping Act 1907.
8.1914: requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (Ad.No.350). Dardanelles campaign (Sk. George Reynolds RNR).
27.4.1915: During progress of the battle off Anzio Beach, berthed alongside at stern of hired Glasgow registered steamer IONIAN (8268grt/1901) which was light ship. Ionian turned propeller which cut into shell plating causing her to fill and sink alongside. All crew saved.
22.12.1915: Aberdeen registry closed “Ship lost at Dardanelles, April 1915”.

Changelog
18/08/2018: Page published.
31/07/2019: Information updated.

S.D/T. Paramount R193

Seasonal visitor
Additional material courtesy of Andy Hall, Barry Banham and Peter Bell

Technical

Official Number: 130026
Yard Number: 494
Completed: 1911
Gross Tonnage: 95
Net Tonnage: 43
Length: 87.0 ft
Breadth: 18.6 ft
Depth: 9.6 ft
Built: Cochrane Shipbuilders Ltd, Selby
Engine: T.3-cyl by Crabtree & Co Ltd, Gt. Yarmouth

History

Additional material courtesy of Andy Hall, Barry Banham and Peter Bell

26.8.1911: Launched by Cochrane Shipbuilders Ltd, Selby (Yd.No.494) for John Mitchell, Kessingland and R. Sillett, Lowestoft as PARAMOUNT.
24.5.1911: Registered at Lowestoft (LT1116).
25.5.1911: Completed. John Mitchell c/o Mitchell Bros, Lowestoft designated managing owner.
12.1914: Requisitioned for war service as a patrol boat and later minesweeper (1-6pdr HA) (Ad.No.1295). Based Ramsgate (Sk. Herbert W. McNeil RNR).
11.1916: With drifter PRESENT HELP (Ad.No.0 (LT1120) took into Ramsgate for examination a schooner which was proceeding up channel to the east of the Goodwins, onboard thirteen German Army officers and non-commissioned officers who had been fighting in the Camaroons.
C1916: Sk. E. Hemp RNR appointed CO.
18.3.1917: Four German destroyers shelled Margate, torpedoed and sank the Hull registered steamer GREYPOINT (894grt/1889) at anchor off Broadstairs, shelled Ramsgate and drifters, hitting PARAMOUNT in several places and severely injuring the skipper and two hands.
10.1917 – 3.1919: Employed as a minesweeper with ASM137.
24.11.1917: In the English Channel off Ramsgate, U.boat (U48) (Kapitanleutnant Karl Edeling) fouled the A/S nets laid to the north of the Goodwins and at about 3.00am. drifted onto the bank. The U.boat was lightened in anticipation of refloating. At daybreak leaving Ramsgate in company with the drifters MAJESTY (Ad.No.1292) (LT66) and PRESENT HELP, proceeding north sighted the stationary U-boat. Closing, they opened fire with their 6pdrs and the fire was returned by the U48 with her superior weaponry, inflicting some damage to PRESENT HELP. They were joined by drifters ACCEPTABLE (Ad.No.1290) (LT1291) FEASIBLE (Ad.No.221) (LT1191) and LORD CLAUD HAMILTON (Ad.No.) (LT1047 ) and the destroyer HMS GYPSY (‘C’ class) which engaged the U48 with her 12pdr scoring thirteen hits. The encounter was brief and escape impossible, Kapitanleutnant Edeling ordered timed scuttling charges to be placed fore and aft and surrendered. The U-boat blew up and with 19 dead including the CO, the 17 survivors were landed at Ramsgate.
Post 12.3.1919: Returned to owner at Lowestoft.
21.2.1920: Sold to Ramsgate Steam Trawling Co Ltd, Ramsgate.
12.3.1920: Lowestoft registry closed.
3.1920: Registered at Ramsgate (R193). Thomas W. Chapman designated manager.
15.4.1921: Entered Ramsgate with a live mine onboard, picked up in the trawl. Not allowed to proceed “through the bridge”, mine removed by coastguard and naval party and rendered safe.
1922 – 1928: Seasonal white fish trawling out of Milford and Fleetwood.
24.11.1924: Fishing off the French coast in the neighbourhood of Sangatte (Sk. Fred Setterfield); at Ramsgate landed 30 trunks of turbot valued at £750. Such a catch had never before been recorded at the port.
21.12.1925: Returned to Ramsgate at 2.00pm to land the cook, Robert Pedder who had been struck by the trawl warp when fishing the Sandette bank grounds. When the vessel was turning, Pedder was struck in the face inflicting a severe scalp wound. Charles Setterfield, son of the skipper, who holds a first aid certificate, was able to treat the injury and make him comfortable. At hospital the wound was stitched and Mr Pedder taken home.
26.10.1926: After fishing “The Falls” returned to Ramsgate with a good shot of herring and thirty sharks, caught in the nets when chasing the herring.
6.11.1926: Reported that Louis Martin, night watchman, saved the life of skipper Fred Setterfield when he fell into deep water in Ramsgate Harbour, holding him up until help arrived.
31.3.1927: At Fleetwood, loading a drum of carbide into the generator in the engine room, overflowed and fell into a pool of water on the plates. A large volume of gas was emitted and ignited by the stove and on reaching the drum, exploded. William Stone, deckhand who was cleaning the cabin was thrown violently against the side and was cut about the head. The deck of the cabin was torn up and dense smoke enveloped the ship. The alarm was raised and the fire was quickly extinguished by the Dock Fire Brigade.
19.7.1927: At Ramsgate landed a 144lb sturgeon. Auctioned on the market it made £3.14s and was displayed before being sent to London.
30.12.1927: Sailed Ramsgate for a trip at the back of the Goodwins (Sk. Fred Setterfield).
2.1.1928: Returning to Ramsgate in the early hours around high water, in a strong SSW wind and heavy sea, stranded on sandbank alongside East Pier, Ramsgate when there was a problem in the engineroom. Five members of the crew including the skipper were taken off by the Ramsgate lifeboat Prudential (Cox. T. Read) while three other crewmen climbed the mainmast and were pulled to safety on the pier. Ch Eng. William Surman (38) who was badly scalded by an explosion in the engine room was taken to hospital and detained. Later the body of Harry Often (26), 2nd Eng. was washed ashore on Ramsgate sands. At low water, Ramsgate Fire Brigade de-watered the ship and 200 boxes of fish were recovered. Subsequently refloated and taken in to the harbour for survey and repair.
12.3.1928: On the afternoon tide, sailed for “the West’ard” (Padstow, Milford and Fleetwood) (Sk. Fred Setterfield) after repair and refurbishment following the January incident.
1928-1939: Seasonal white fish trawling out of Padstow, Milford and Fleetwood. Harry Eastoe Rees, Milford managing agent.
31.11.1928: Off Ramsgate, Arthur Medhurst (26), Third hand, fell overboard and drowned.
1932: Alfred H. Lanfear Jnr designated manager.
16. 2.1935: Arrived Milford with drifter/trawler MILL o’ BUCKIE (R129) in tow. MILL o’ BUCKIE had been driven ashore in a strong gale in late January on the west side of Rosslare Harbour, Co Waterford, resting on hard ground with two blades of propeller partially broken and leaking in the stokehold. After salvage, hired to tow her back to Milford for temporary repairs prior to returning to Ramsgate.
24.11.1938: Put into Dover with a leaking boiler tube.
15.11.1939: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeping drifter (P.No.FY954) (Hire rate £25.10.0d/month).
12.1939 – 2.1940: Fitting out as a minesweeper, Swansea Command (Sk. E.C.E. Blowers RNR).
21.1.1940: Took off crew, sixty in number – twenty injured, of Liverpool registered steamer PROTESILAUS (9577grt/1910) (Alfred Henry Dennistoun Shand, Master), Liverpool for Barry in ballast, which had been mined at 9.36am about six miles WSW of Mumbles Head, Bristol Channel (mines laid off Rotherslade 5.12.1939 by U.boat (U28)). Survivors landed at Swansea and vessel towed into Swansea Bay and beached off Mumbles Light House. Later broke in two.
10.1941 – 3.1942: Refitting at Gloucester.
From 2.1942: Sk. C. E. Blowers RNR, CO.
16.12.1943: Sk. Frederick William White RNR, CO.
2.1944 – 3.1944: Listed as Special Service Vessel, Milford Command (but still at Swansea).
4.1944 – 3.1945: Plymouth Command.
4. – 8.1944: Listed at Milford.
9.1944 – 2.1945: Listed at Portsmouth.
4.1945 – 9.1945: Portsmouth Command.
1945: Sold to Harry Eastoe Rees, Milford Haven.
1945: Sold to Drifter Trawlers Ltd, Milford Haven. Harry Eastoe Rees designated manager.
19.1.1946: Returned to owners at Milford Haven.
2.1946 – 5.1949: Fishing out of Ramsgate.
12.1946: Entered Ramsgate with a live mine onboard, picked up in the trawl.
07.1950: Laid up at Milford Haven.
12.8.1950: Returned to service.
1955: Sold to Rees Shipbreaking Co Ltd, Llanelli for breaking up.
3.8.1955: Sailed Milford for Llanelli under own power.
8.1955: Ramsgate registry closed. Last Ramsgate registered steam trawler.

Click to enlarge images

S.D/T. Paramount R193

S.D/T. Paramount R193
Picture from the Internet

S.D/T. Mill o' Buckie R129

S.D/T. Mill o’ Buckie R129
Picture from The Internet

Changelog
02/07/2018: Page published.
12/07/2018: Updated information.
18/07/2018: Added image.