Author Archives: Bill Johnson

sv Countess WN115

Additional information courtesy of Christine Simm

Technical
Official Number: Part IV registered
Owner: R. Leech & Co, Whitehaven Rig: Smack, trawling.

History

1887: Owned by R. Leech & Co, Whitehaven. Registered at Whitehaven (WN115).
10.2.1888: Reported sold to Robert Westby, Fleetwood.
By 6.1888: Sold to Mr. Cookson, Manchester. Fishing out of Fleetwood . George Fog skipper. 11.7.1888: In the morning trawling on the grounds near Morecambe Bay Lightship (Sk G. Fogg); five crew all told. One man and a boy on deck the rest below. At about 5.45am, the boy on deck observed smoke coming from the hold and raised the alarm. Attempts were at once made to enter the hold but owing to the volume of smoke which rushed through the hatch boards as the covers were removed, it was not possible. Efforts were made in the cabin to extinguish the fire but in less than ten minutes from the discovery of the fire it became obvious that the crew could do little more and the skipper ordered the punt to be put in the water. Despite the heavy sea running, the crew abandoned the smack. Standing off they could see that the smack was well ablaze and at about 7.30am. the mainmast fell overboard. The smack MARY ASHCROFT (FD24) (Sk. Mills) was in the vicinity and picked up the crew, taking the punt and the mainmast in tow they set a course for Fleetwood, arriving on the evening tide. The COUNTESS, completely burnt out sank in the late forenoon. The origin of the fire was not known, but it was supposed that the fire could have started because the bogey stove in the cabin was too close to the bulkhead. Position of wreck – Morecambe Bay Lightship, six miles NNW; Walney Light, 12 miles WNW; Foot of Wyre Lighthouse, 20 miles NW; 151/2 fathoms of water, soft bottom. Whitehaven registry closed.

Changelog
26/01/2023: Page published.

S.T. Agnes H. Wetherly – A473 – Seasonal visitor

Additional information courtesy of Christine Simm

Technical

Official Number: 139795
Yard Number: 428
Completed: 1917
Gross Tonnage: 229.29
Net Tonnage: 88.55
Length: 115.1 ft
Breadth: 22.7 ft
Depth: 12.1 ft
Built: John Duthie Torry Shipbuilding Co
Engine: T.3-cyl by Wm Beardmore & Co Ltd, Glasgow

History

3.1917: Launched by The John Duthie Torry Shipbuilding Co. (Yd.No.428) for Wetherly’s Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Aberdeen as AGNES H. WETHERLY.
3.1917: Completed.
30.3.1917: Registered at Aberdeen (A743). First skipper W. J. Anneson.
5.1917: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (1-6pdr) (Ad.No.3041). Based Egypt.
By 4.1.1919: Returned to owners at Aberdeen.
9.8.1919: Landed 700 boxes/2 tons loose.
27.11.1919: Landed 229 boxes/ 8cwt.
1920-23: Fishing out of Aberdeen.
26.2.1923: At Fleetwood landed 140 boxes.
16.8.1923: At Fleetwood landed 129 boxes.
2.2.1924 -19.12.1925: Taking bunker coal at Burntisland.
7.3.1926: At Fleetwood landed 230 boxes. One of twenty-eight trawlers landing that day. There was brisk demand and higher prices were realised.
7.10.1926: At Aberdeen Sheriff Court an extraordinary case unfolded. John Mitchell, 23 Gordon Street, Aberdeen, cook, denied that on August 5 he failed without reasonable excuse to join the ship. Sk. Thomas Fitzpatrick, 6 King Street, Aberdeen had been drinking with the accused in the morning. The crew were ordered to join the ship at 12 noon, Mitchell came onboard under the influence of alcohol, but at the order to let go, he jumped ashore. The skipper then jumped ashore and ran after Mitchell to get him to come back on board, Mitchell started sparring and the skipper knocked him down. Mitchell said that there had been drink brought onboard before sailing and it was ‘touch and go’ whether the skipper was capable of taking the ship to sea, he therefore jumped ashore. The Sheriff said that the evidence was hopeless on both sides and the skipper was not setting a good example to the crew. The complaint was dismissed.
22.11.1926: Took bunker coat at Burntisland.
18.1.1927 – 14.5.1927: Taking bunker coal at Granton.
18.2.1927: Sold to Richard Watson Lewis, Aberdeen.
11.1932: Company wound up and all vessels sold.
15.12.1932: Sold to North Eastern Fisheries Ltd, Aberdeen. Smith & Holmes, Aberdeen agents.
29.12.1934: Landed 110 boxes/2 score.
12.3.1935: Landed 250 boxes/10 score.
10.6.1935: Landed100 boxes/3 score.
25.9.1935: Landed180 boxes/6 score.
21.1.1936: Landed 180 boxes/12 score.
16.3.1936: Skipper John Wood Smith, 199 Victoria Road, Aberdeen, left the trawler about noon. About 1.00pm he called at an office in King Street and complained of feeling unwell. A doctor was summoned and Smith was found to be seriously ill. He was taken to the Royal Infirmary where he lapsed into unconsciousness and died at about 4.00pm.
29.1.1937: Having been almost swamped by a huge wave at Faroe, arrived Macduff with 200 boxes of fish.
25.3.1937: Landed 220 boxes/10 score.
3.7.1937: Landed 120 boxes/1 score.
29.9.1938: In dense fog, stood by the Grimsby trawler WORSLEY (GY506) which had stranded in the early morning under Berry Head, near Torness on the south west coast of the island of Hoy. The Longhope lifeboat, THOMAS McCUNN, and life saving brigade, alerted by Wick radio, also attended and the lifeboat took off crew. Middlesbrough steam tug KINGS CROSS (282grt/1918) arrived on scene from Scrabster and reported attempting to refloat. At 10.56am reported that trawler was filling with water. Tow abandoned after two hours, tow rope and wires lost. Vessel total loss.
27.9.1938: Landed 210 boxes/3 score.
1.11.1938: In heavy weather sheltering in Pierwall Harbour, Westray (Sk. William McPherson). Alerted by the Norwegian motor vessel STIRLINGVILLE (4995grt/1935), which had sighted the MARSTAL registered auxiliary schooner Nordstjernen (242grt/1913), Riga for Ireland, cargo timber, dismasted with engine out of action. The motor vessel was unable to help as she was in ballast. Put to sea towards casualty. After three hours came upon the schooner, and found the crew of seven suffering from the intense cold and wet and with great difficulty the tow was connected at the third attempt. When passing the tow, the schooner had rammed the trawler stern and Daniel McPherson, son of the skipper narrowly escaped injury.
2.11.1938: After a hazardous tow reached the safety of Pierwall Harbour.
4.11.1938: With weather moderated somewhat, at about 3.00am sailed Pierwall Harbour for Kirkwall with tow. After another difficult journey safely delivered to anchor in Kirkwall Bay. At about 3.30pm sailed for Aberdeen to catch the Saturday morning market with her catch.
7.8.1939: Landed115 boxes/15 score.
17.6.1940: Requisitioned for war service as an armed patrol vessel (P.No.4.279) (Hire rate £66.15.10d/month) – listed as AGNES WETHERLY.
7.1941: At Dundee payed off for refit.
16.11.1942: Sold to William Carnie Jnr & Thomas Young Carnie, Granton. William Carnie Jnr designated manager.
12.1945: Returned to owner at Aberdeen.
15.12.1945: Aberdeen registry closed.
12.1945: Registered at Granton (GN9).
30.3.1946: Sold to George Robb & Sons Ltd, Aberdeen.
15.11.1946: Registered at Aberdeen as Viking Monarch (A25). (MoT Minute RGNo.1573/1946 dated 9.11.1946).
15.9.1952: At Aberdeen Sheriff Court, William Robertson, 73 Ruthrieston Circle, Aberdeen admitted three breaches of the Merchant Shipping Act by failing to join the ships, VIKING MONARCH, DELIA (A182) and LINBURN (?) at the time arranged. Robertson had two previous convictions and was sent to prison for twenty-eight days.
24.12.1952: While alongside in Aberdeen a fire broke out in the forecastle. The outbreak was seen by a box pool employee at about 4.30 am and the alarm was raised. The Fire Brigade arrived and succeeded in extinguishing the blaze but there was considerable damage.
22.1.1953: At Aberdeen Sheriff Court, Francis Kane, 22 St. Andrew Street, Aberdeen, deckhand, was charged with disobeying a lawful command to sail in the trawler on August 7, 1952. Although this was Kane’s second offence, he overslept and was late, but did not delay the sailing. Fined £8 with 35/- expenses.
27.8.1953: At Aberdeen Sheriff Court, Robert G. Buchan (26), 31 Ugie Street, Peterhead who had failed to sail on three separate occasions was fined a total of £16. Buchan pleaded guilty to (1) on August 15 1952 while fireman on the Aberdeen steam trawler GEORGE ROBB (A406) failed to sail: (2) on August 20, 1952, when fireman on the Aberdeen steam trawler VIKING MONARCH, failed to sail: (3) on October 9, 1952 while deckhand on the ‘Shields steam trawler JOHN DONOVAN (SN52), failed to sail.
29.7.1955: Arrived Aberdeen from the Faroe grounds.
30.7.1955: At Aberdeen Sheriff Court, George Muir, c/o The Seamen’s Mission, Aberdeen, a fireman, was charged with knowingly concealing 50 cigars and 230 cigarettes with intent to evade duty when the trawler berthed yesterday. He was fined £7 10/- with the goods confiscated.
20.9.1955: With two other trawlers, despite the ongoing strike at Aberdeen, landed 450 boxes. There was good demand for the catches at the sales.
17.4.1956: At Aberdeen Sheriff Court, Benjamin Cross (29), 1 Barron Street, Woodside, Aberdeen along with two others admitted failing to join the steam trawler BEN GLAS (SN336) on 22nd March, saying that the trawler had a leak in the forecastle and was not seaworthy. The trio were given a further opportunity to join the vessel but they refused. Cross had seven previous conviction. All three were sentenced to 28 days imprisonment. Cross was then brought back into the dock and pleaded guilty to failing to sail with the VIKING MONARCH on 11th February . He was sentenced to a further 28 days imprisonment.
10.8.1956: At Aberdeen Sheriff Court, Robert Mundie (25), 1 Kerloch Gardens, Aberdeen was fined £7 10/- for failing to join the trawler and sail. He had three previous convictions.
12.1.1959: Responded to distress of Aberdeen steam trawler GEORGE ROBB (A406), stranded some 100 yards from shore in Deer Sound, Orkney. Connected but at high water failed to refloat. The weather is calm and the trawler and crew are in no immediate danger. Subsequently refloated and proceeded.
16.11.1960: Landed at Aberdeen. Last skipper Joseph Findlay.
1960: Sold to Dutch shipbreakers.
7.4.1961: Aberdeen registry closed “ Advice received from beneficial owners.”

Changelog
07/09/2021: Page published.

S.T. Dover – GY142

Technical

Official Number: 106681
Yard Number: 124
Completed: 1896
Gross Tonnage: 163
Net Tonnage: 63
Length: 104.2 ft
Breadth: 20.5 ft
Depth: 10.7 ft
Built: Mackie & Thomson, Govan
Engine: T.3-cyl by Muir & Houston Ltd, Glasgow

History

2.11.1896: Launched by Mackie & Thomson, Govan (Yd.No.124) for Hagerup, Doughty & Co Ltd, Grimsby as DOVER.
11.1896: Completed.
26.11.1896: Registered at Grimsby (GY142).
21.12.1896: Fred Hagerup designated manager.
1.3.1906: Sold to Consolidated Steam Fishing & Ice Co (Grimsby) Ltd, Grimsby on formation of the company. John D. Marsden designated manager.
24.3.1912: Arrived Fleetwood to fish out of the port.
11.1922: Sold to George Wardell, Hartlepool.
30.11.1922: Grimsby registry closed.
11.1922: Registered at Hartlepool (HL38). George Wardell designated managing owner.
1924: Sold to Consolidated Steam Fishing & Ice Co (Grimsby) Ltd, Grimsby. Sir John D. Marsden Bart designated manager.
1924: Transferred to fish out of Lowestoft.
12.1924: Hartlepool registry closed.
13.12.1924: Registered at Lowestoft (LT93).
1936: Sold for breaking up.
1.9.1936: Lowestoft registry closed “Vessel broken up”.

Changelog
07/09/2021: Page published.

S.T. Margaret Wetherly – A344

Additional information courtesy of Christine Simm and Birgir Þórisson

Technical

Official Number: 129350.
Yard Number: 463
Completed: 1911
Gross Tonnage: 211.39
Net Tonnage: 78.80
Length: 115.4 ft
Breadth: 22.5 ft
Depth: 12.4 ft
Built: Alexander Hall & Co Ltd, Aberdeen
Engine: 450ihp T.3-cyl by Alexander Hall & Co Ltd, Aberdeen

History

4.1.1911: Launched by Miss Kennard, daughter of the Skipper, George T. W. Kennard, at Alexander Hall & Co Ltd, Aberdeen (Yd.No.463) for Wetherly’s Steam Fishing Co Ltd (64/64), Aberdeen as MARGARET WETHERLY.
17.1.1911: Registered at Aberdeen (A344). William R. Wetherly designated manager.
1.1911: Completed. Sk. George T. W. Kennard (17.1.1911 – 30.11.1911).
30.1.1911: Landed 130 boxes/6 score.
8.4.1911: Landed 400 boxes/600 score.
6.1911: Fishing out of Fleetwood (Sk. George T. W. Kennard) (Messrs Smith, Jameson & Holmes, managing agents).
10.6.1911: Landed 171 boxes.
21.6.1911: Landed 230 boxes.
3.7.1911: Landed 219 boxes.
7.1911: Returned to Aberdeen.
17.8.1911: Landed 200 boxes/5 score.
20.8.1911: Landed 115 boxes.
10.10.1911: At Fleetwood landed 170 boxes.
28.10.1911: Landed a light shot and 100 crans of herring.
5.4.1912: Landed 70 boxes/55 score.
16.4.1912: Landed 120 boxes/10 score.
w/e 20.4.1912: Sailed Aberdeen along with trawlers MARY WETHERLY (A344) and LOCH LEE (A325) to conduct operations in Iceland.
16.5.1912: Landed from an Iceland trip 700 boxes/300 score.
20.8.1912: At Fleetwood Landed 115 boxes.
27.9.1912: At Fleetwood landed 274 boxes.
22.10.1912: At Aberdeen landed 120 boxes/17 score.
1913: Fishing out of Aberdeen (Messrs Smith, Jameson & Holmes agents).
8.1.1913: Landed 25 boxes/11 score.
1.9.1913: Landed 400 boxes, £200 gross.
18.12.1913: Landed 120 boxes/12 tons.
10.2.1914: Landed 160 boxes/15 tons side fish.
30.3.1914: Landed 210 boxes/60 score.
13.3.1915: Sold to William Alexander Leith, Aberdeen.
6.1915: Requisitioned for war service and converted for boom working, based Scapa.
1917: At Scapa, used as an accommodation ship.
1920: Returned to owner.
10.2.1920: Typical day. With eighteen trawlers and two steam liners landed an aggregate catch of 270 tons.
25.9.1920: Landed a good shot of 97 crans. Prices ranged from 52s 6d to 94s 6d per cran.
1921-2.1923 Landing mainly at Aberdeen.
5.1.1921: With seventeen trawlers landed an aggregate catch of 303 tons.
3.1923: Fishing out of Fleetwood.
6.3.1923: Landed 80 boxes.
23.3.1923: Landed 190 boxes.
9.5.1923: Landed 160 boxes.
19.7.1923: Landed 310 boxes.
8.1923: Returned to Aberdeen.
7.3.1924: With twenty-eight trawlers and two steam liners landed an aggregate catch of 405 tons.
31.7.1924: Landed at North Shields.
10.1.1925: Arrived Burntisland from Aberdeen to load bunker coal, on completion sailed for fishing grounds.
22.7.1925: Typical day. With thirty-one trawlers and seven steam liners landed an aggregate catch of 435 tons.
23.4.1926: At Aberdeen Sheriff Court, James Johnstone Fraser, 2nd Eng, was charged with neglecting, or refusing, without reasonable cause, to proceed to sea in the trawler. Fraser did not appear in court and his wife pleaded guilty on his behalf. Fraser had arrived at the trawler drunk and delayed the sailing for about an hour. When the ship was in mid channel he requested the skipper to return to harbour, but he refused. The accused then jumped onboard a passing inbound trawler. The Sheriff ordered a fine of 24s – two days’ wages – and £1 8s 4d expenses. The alternative was seven days imprisonment.
21.8.1926: Typical day With thirty-one trawlers and three steam liners landed an aggregate catch of 375 tons.
19.9.1927: Landed at North Shields.
28.5.1928: Typical day. With twenty-eight trawlers and two steam liners landed an aggregate catch of 405 tons.
6.6.1929: Typical day. With thirty-one trawlers and sixteen steam liners landed an aggregate catch of 245 tons, including 47 tons of Iceland fish.
18.2.1930: With twenty-four trawlers and three steam liners landed an aggregate catch of 235 tons, including 60 tons from Iceland by two German trawlers.
3.6.1930: Sold to Thomas Thomson Brown, Leith. Thomas T. Brown designated managing owner.
25.8.1931: Sold to James Johnston, Leith. James Johnston designated managing owner.
25.8.1931: Aberdeen registry closed.
8.1931: Registered at Granton (GN32).
11.1.1934: Sailed Aberdeen for the fishing grounds (Sk. Philip Stevenson, Edinburgh).
12.1.1934: When fishing some 105 miles NE of Buchan Ness, Second fisherman, Joseph Mulligan was engaged in shooting the trawl. When blocking up, the messenger hook broke and the preventer chain struck Mulligan knocking him overboard. A lifebelt was thrown to him and he managed to catch it but was unable to retain his hold, apparently due to injury. George Galbraith (33)*, deckhand, jumped in the sea and managed to get hold of Mulligan but a heavy sea separated them and Mulligan disappeared. Cruised the vicinity for two hours but Mulligan was not seen again. He left a widow and one daughter.
24.1.1938: At Aberdeen reported that in the fiercest storm in memory, had boat swept overboard.
23.3.1939: Sailed Granton for the fishing grounds. When only a few miles out, the lower door of the boiler blew out. Fortunately no one was injured and returned to Granton assisted into harbour by the steam trawler INVERCAULD (GN47).
5.2.1943: On a West Coast trip. In severe weather foundered 5 miles S of Loch Spelve, Isle of Mull. All eleven crew saved.
7.2.1943: Survivors arrived back in Granton. Granton registry closed.

Note *. 17.4.1934: At a Ceremony in Edinburgh, George Galbraith, 236 Marionville Road, Edinburgh, received £5 and the Honorary Testimonial on vellum of the Royal Humane Society for his efforts to save Joseph Mulligan.

Changelog
30/08/2021: Page published.

S.D/T. Byng – LT632

Technical

Official Number: 140000
Yard Number: 284
Completed: 1919
Gross Tonnage: 107
Net Tonnage: 52
Length: 92.1 ft
Breadth 19.0 ft
Depth: 9.75 ft
Built: Fellows & Co Ltd, Gt Yarmouth
Engine: 270ihp T.3-cyl by Pertwee & Black, Gorleston

History

1918: Requisitioned by The Admiralty on the stocks, no instalment monies paid.
1919: Launched by Fellows & Co Ltd, Gt Yarmouth (Yd.No.284) (non-standard “Admiralty drifter”) for The Admiralty as ELEPHANTA.
2.1920: Sold to Victory Fishing Co Ltd (64/64), Norwich and completed as a fishing vessel.
10.2.1920: Registered at Lowestoft as BYNG (LT632). Arthur W. Harvey, Lowestoft appointed manager.
1.6.1921: Sold to Vigilant Fishing Co Ltd (64/64), Norwich. George F. Spashett, Lowestoft appointed manager.
1928: Landing at Fleetwood.
13.6.1928: Landed 47 boxes.
20.1.1931: Sold to George William Keable (22/64), Lewis Percy Keeble (21/64) and George James Keeble (21/64) all Lowestoft. George W. Keable designated managing owner.
25.1.1935: At Douglas, IoM suffered damage.
16.10.1939: Requisitioned for war service and employed on miscellaneous naval duties, boom drifter & balloon barrage (P.No.FT.1870) (Hire rate £32.16.0d/month).
14.4.1944: Sold to Locarno Fishing Co Ltd (64/64), London. John C. Hayward, Lowestoft appointed manager.
1946: Returned to owner.
Post WW2 – 1950: Seasonal white fish trawling from Fleetwood.
3.1955: Sold to Jacques Bakker & Zonen, Bruges for breaking up.
3.3.1955: Sailed Lowestoft for Antwerp towing steam drifter RAMSEY BAY (LT1290), also for breaking up.
9.3.1955: Delivered Bruges.
16.6.1955: Lowestoft registry closed.

Changelog
23/08/2021: Page published.