Author Archives: Bill Johnson

S.T. Revesby – BN50

Additional information courtesy of Christine Simm

Technical

Official Number:104153
Yard Number: 143
Completed: 1898
Gross Tonnage: 194
Net Tonnage: 33
Length: 110.0 (117.0 loa)
Breadth: 20.9 ft
Depth: 10.8 ft
Built: J. Jones & Sons, Liverpool
Engine: T.3-cyl by J. Jones & Sons, Liverpool

History

12.1898: Completed by J. Jones & Sons, Liverpool (Yd.No.143) for Boston Deep Sea Fishing & Ice Co Ltd, Boston as REVESBY.
28.12.1898: After successful builder’s trials sailed Liverpool for Boston (Sk. Alec Cutting).
1.1.1899: Arrived Boston.
1.1899: Registered at Boston (BN50). James Bloomfield designated manager.
4.1.1899: Sailed Boston for a trial trip to the Deeps with friends and press onboard (Sk. Alec Cutting).
5.2.1899: In the afternoon in Strait Bargate, Boston, the young son of Sk. Alec Cutting was knocked down and run over by a trolley. Taken to the hospital but no bones broken.
11.2.1899: Arrived Boston from the fishing grounds.
15.6.1899: Sailed Boston at 9.30am with the directors of the company onboard for the annual excursion to the Deeps, returning at 10.30pm.
2.1890: The Great Storm.
13.2.1890: Sailed Boston for the fishing grounds (Sk. Alec Cutting ), along with steam trawler GRAMPUS (Sk. Bob Lowe). When some 230 miles out and off the Aberdeenshire coast the weather started to deteriorate. Spoke with GRAMPUS and decided to shoot the trawl. The trawl was only down for two hours before the wind increased to severe gale and the net was hauled with great difficulty. With a very high sea running it was difficult to see the GRAMPUS, but she appeared to be making very bad weather of it. Started to dodge, but that night the weather worsened, the wind flying from SE to N and then back and the ship rolling heavily and constantly being swept by seas. At midnight the lights of the GRAMPUS could be seen but by 1.00am they had gone. The next morning main and mizzen sails were set to steady the ship, at about 11.00am a towering sea crashed onboard, hitting the sails throwing her right over and in danger of capsize. She rose, but not quite recovering laid on her beam ends. The engine had stopped, steering damaged, ventilators torn of and boat observed floating away. With ejectors working the situation was critical and for three days and nights water levels were slowly reduced and the weather started to moderate. It was then possible to enter the bunkers to trim the coal over to correct the list. Once this was done temporary steering gear was rigged and the ship put on course for shore.
19.2.1900: Arrived Hartlepool reported loss of boat, lifebuoys, anchors, cables, jib boom, warps, nets and part casing stove in. Temporary repairs carried out.
21.2.1890: Arrived Boston and reported that the GRAMPUS had possibly foundered. Sent to North Shields for repair.
6.3.1900: Tasked to look for trawlers missing since the last storm, arrived Kirkwall in the morning with part of boat, about 4ft next stern, marked ‘BN22’ identified as belonging to the GRAMPUS.
7.3.1900: Sailed Kirkwall for further search.
17.8.1900: Outward from Boston for the fishing grounds collided with the Danish registered schooner R0TA, Colchester for Blyth, damaging her bulwarks and other damage. Connected, towed to Clayhole and put to anchor.
19.8.1900: Boston tug BULLDOG (72grt/1884) connected and took ROTA up to Boston for repair.
21.8.1900: At Boston Court, deckhands James Rowan and Frank Knight were charged with refusing to join the trawler and each fined 40s and costs.
23.9.1900: Sailed Boston for North Sea fishing grounds. When about 40 miles out near the Inner Dowsing Lightship, Ch. Eng Charles Henry Dowsing (38) fell overboard and was drowned before the boat launched by the trawler could reach him.
24.9.1902: Returned to Boston.
13.10.1902: Body of Charles Dowsing washed ashore in Wainfleet Haven.
14.10.1902: Returned to Boston from a broken trip to report the death of deckhand Thomas Dunsden (40) who was taken ill on the fishing grounds and died on 13th October.
1904: Fred Donnison designated manager.
19.3.1907: On a North Sea trip (Sk. Parker). When about 100 miles from the Inner Dowsing, disabled with rudder broken. Grimsby steam trawler ASHTON (GY123) (Sk. Wright) responded to distress, connected and commenced tow to Boston.
20.3.1907: Delivered Boston.
24.2.1909: When lying at the jetty at Boston, struck by London registered steamer GRACE (354grt/1904)(Capt. J. W. Footit), inbound from Wisbech causing considerable damage.
1909: Thomas D. Donaldson designated manager.
1910: Fishing out of Fleetwood (Fred Donnison, Fleetwood managing agent).
20.2.1911: At Fleetwood landed 40 boxes (5 boxes of soles).
1912: Daniel Walker designated manager.
1.1.1914: Tonnage altered to 79n under provision of Merchant Shipping Act 1907.
15.8.1915: Reported that all the company trawlers were in port with the exception of REVESBY and INDIAN which had been sent out to fetch in the others.
11.1916: Requisitioned for war service as a boom trawler (P.No.NA). Based Sheerness.
Post 12.3.1919: Returned to owner.
1919: Sold to Frederick W. Simpson and T. Shone, Scarborough. Frederick W. Simpson designated managing owner. Fishing out of Hull.
23.5.1919: Arrived Hull from a North Sea trip.
2.6.1919: Sailed Hull for North Sea fishing grounds.
9.11.1919: When off the Aberdeenshire coast in severe weather answered the distress signal of the Kirkcaldy registered steamer RAITH (92grt/1895) (Capt Macdonald) struck by heavy seas the previous day, disabled and flooding. Closed and in very difficult conditions took off the crew pulled through the water with ropes.
10.11.1919: Landed survivors at North Shields.
1920: Sold to Revesby Steam Trawling Co Ltd, Scarborough. Frederick W. Simpson designated manager.
3.5.1920: At Scarborough, Sk. T. Casey was fined £25 with £5 costs for trawling in prohibited waters off Whitby (area contained sunken mines from WW1).
2.1921: Surveyed at Grimsby.
1921: Sold to Cameleyre Frères, Arcachon. Boston registry closed. Registered at Arcachon as MARGUERITR RENÉ.
1922: Remeasured 185g 42n.
1922: Sold to Société Anonyme des Pêcheries Cameleyre Frères, Arcachon.
28.1.1927: Reported that the Ministry of Public Works (merchant marine section) had issued a letter to the owners, congratulating them on the good state of maintenance observed on the vessel by the Port of Arcachon Commissioners (Sk. Deliges René).
22.11.1927: At Arcachon landed 11,081 kgs of fish.
27.11.1927: At Arcachon landed 12,963 kgs (204 boxes) of fish.
8.1.1928: At Arcachon landed 3,469 kgs of fish.
7.9.1928: Reported under repair.
1.10.1928: At Arcachon landed 5,860kgs (92 boxes) of fish.
7.2.1929: At Arcachon landed 9,718 kgs of fish.
20.6.1929: Reported under repair.
14.11.1929: At Arcachon landed 4,382kgs (69 boxes) of fish.
19.3.1930: At Arcachon landed 6,856kgs of fish.
1930: Sold to E. Leveau, Dieppe. Arcachon registry closed. Registered at Dieppe as Denise-Simonne.
9.11.1931: Landed at Dieppe.
17.12.1931: At Dieppe landed 37 ‘crates’ of fish, 18,053fr gross.
15.4.1932: At Dieppe landed 17 ‘crates’ of fish, 8,269fr gross.
22.10.1032: At Dieppe landed 4 tonnes (63 boxes) of fish.
2.9.1941: At La Rochelle landed 14,310 kgs (225 boxes) of fish.
1952: Latterly owned by Armement Leveau, Dieppe. Sold for breaking up. Dieppe registry closed.

Note: REVESBY and CARRINGTON (BN51) were built with an improved hull form and many additions not found in a trawler of that size, including a boiler pressure of 200psi, evaporator, steam steering engine in the wheelhouse, lifeboat with built in sealed buoyancy tanks and enclosed trawl winch, but … she still had a suit of sails.

Click to enlarge images

S.T. Revesby BN50

S.T. Revesby BN50 inboard of Dixon SH253
Picture courtesy of The George Westwood Collection

S.T. Revesby BN50

S.T. Revesby BN50 (outboard)
Picture courtesy of The George Westwood Collection

Changelog
14/07/2021: Page published.

S.D. Orient II – LT859

Seasonal visitor
Additional information courtesy of BARRY BANHAM Fishing Vessel Research

Technical

Official Number: 130014
Yard Number: 167
Completed: 1911
Gross Tonnage: 92.85
Net Tonnage: 43.90
Length: 86.0 ft
Breadth: 19.3 ft
Depth: 9.6 ft
Engine: 170ihp T.3-cyl by S. Richards & Co Ltd, Lowestoft (engine no.167)
Boiler: 140psi by Riley Brothers Ltd, Stockton on Tees

History

22.2.1911: Launched by S. Richards & Co Ltd, Lowestoft (Yd.No.167) for Arthur Mitchell, Lowestoft as ORIENT II.
28.4.1911: Registered at Lowestoft (LT859). Arthur Mitchell designated managing owner.
29.4.1911: Completed trials.
16.11.1914: At Lowestoft landed 25 cran of fresh herring at £6/cran and 40 cran of overlays at £4 7 0d/cran. This was a record price at the time.
1915: Requisitioned for war service as an A/S Net drifter (1-57mm) (Ad.No.1894).
12.1916: The Admiralty paid the crew £11. 2. 7d to bring the vessel home from the Isle of Man.
1918: Based Devonport.
By 12.3.1919: Returned to owner at Lowestoft.
1920s: Seasonal fishing out of Fleetwood.
21.8.1923: Deckhand William Pleasants pulled overboard and drowned.
28.11.1924: Disabled with broken tail shaft. Picked up by steam drifter CONIFER (LT658) and towed home.
31.5.1928: At Fleetwood typical landing 53 boxes.
13.8.1930: Arthur Mitchel died.
1.1931: Arthur Claud Mitchel, Milford Haven and Derek Victor Mitchell, Bungay, Suffolk (joint owners).
16.5.1932: Damaged stem at Milford.
1933: Sold to Harry George Everard Williams, London. Harry G. E. Williams designated managing owner. Used as a scallop dredger at Brightlingsea.
13.1.1942: Lowestoft registry closed “ Vessel unseaworthy, sold for breaking up”. Advice received from owner.
1942: Vessel hulked on Brightlingsea beach.

Changelog
08/07/2021: Page published.
10/07/2021: Completed history and technical details.

S.T. Indian – BN90

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.

S.T. Julian – BN88

Additional information courtesy of Christine Simm

Technical

Official Number: 113738
Yard Number: 642
Completed: 1900
Gross Tonnage: 185
Net Tonnage: 70
Length: 116.0 ft
Breadth: 21.1 ft
Depth: 11.0 ft
Engine: 375ihp T.3-cyl by North Eastern Marine Engineering Co Ltd, Sunderland
Built: Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, North Shields

History

26.9.1900: Launched by Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, North Shields (Yd.No.642) for Boston Steam Fishing Co Ltd, Boston as JULIAN.
10.1900: Completed.
26.10.1900: Registered at Boston (BN88). Fred Donnison designated manager
1902: Sold to Boston Deep Sea Fishing & Ice Co Ltd, Boston.
1909: Thomas D. Donaldson designated manager.
1911: Fishing out of Fleetwood (Fred Donnison, Fleetwood managing agent).
3.3.1911: At Fleetwood landed 50 boxes.
11.3.1911: At Fleetwood landed 40 boxes.
5.6.1911: At Fleetwood landed 157 boxes.
1012: Daniel Walker designated manager.
12.1.1913: Homeward to Boston (Sk.Pawley), stranded on the Long Sands in the Wash, doing considerable damage to shell plating and stern frame, breaking her rudder stock. The Hunstanton lifeboat was launched and stood by until the trawler refloated on the next tide.
13.1.1913: Arrived Boston with jury rudder rigged from otter board. Repairs cost about £300 without allowing for the trawler’s demurrage for time lost repairing. Cause of stranding was said to be that on the 1 January, Trinity House moved the Lynn Well Lightship some two miles from the former position and the proposed gas buoy had not yet been installed.
22.8.1914: Fishing in the North Sea (Sk. Charles Walkerley). Captured and sunk (officially fate listed as “unknown”) by German torpedo boats in North Sea, along with FLAVIAN (BN86), and INDIAN (BN90). Crews interned for duration of war.
9.1914: Boston registry closed.
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.

S.T. Hungarian – BN89

Additional information courtesy of Finn Björn Guttesen, Christine Simm and Birgir Þórisson

Technical

Official Number: 113739
Yard Number: 639
Completed: 1900
Gross Tonnage: 186
Net Tonnage: 75
Length: 116.0 ft
Breadth: 21.1 ft
Depth: 11.0 ft
Engine: 375ihp T.3-cyl and boiler by North-Eastern Marine Engineering Co Ltd, Sunderland

History

28.8.1900: Launched by Smith’s Dock Co Ltd, North Shields (Yd.No.639) for Boston Sea Fishing Co Ltd, Boston as HUNGARIAN.
10.1900: Completed.
6.11.1900: Registered at Boston (BN89). Fred Donnison designated manager.
11.9.1901: At Boston landed an unusual supply of large haddock, realised £304.
1902: Sold to Boston Deep Sea Fishing & Ice Co Ltd, Boston. Fred Donnison designated manager.
8.4.1903: At Boston landed from a sixteen day Faroe trip and realised £308.
29.8.1903: Outward to the fishing grounds grounded in the river and came fast. Towed off, returned to port and after survey sailed again for the fishing grounds.
19.1.1904: Arrived Bremen with the German schooner GERMANIA in tow. Vessel picked up disabled with some sails lost, one man drowned and one sick, while on a voyage from Southampton to Bo’ness with cargo of iron.
29.2.1904: At Boston Borough Police Court, Alfred Roberts (32), fisherman of the steam trawler HUNGARIAN was charged with being drunk and disorderly in South Street on 27th February. Fined 2s 6d and 6d costs.
1909: Thomas D. Donaldson designated manager.
10.12.1909: At anchor near the pilot sloop waiting for the tide to proceed to Boston (Sk K. Newman). The Ramsgate registered schooner NANCY (117tons/1890) (Master/owner George Smith (60), Sandwich), having loaded 210 tons of coal at Boston for Ramsgate, had been towed out of Boston by the tug BULLDOG (72grt/1884) and at about 6.30pm went to anchor with lights burning, about three cables from the pilot sloop. In the early evening in darkness and driving rain, the trawler weighed anchor by the light of a flare, the crew did not see the schooner ahead of them. When under way struck the bows of the NANCY which foundered quickly, the crew of five being taken off with some difficulty by the trawler’s boat and taken onboard.
11.12.1909: Survivors landed at Boston. NANCY subsequently salved, repaired and returned to service.
1910: Fishing out of Fleetwood (Fred Donnison, Fleetwood managing agent).
15.12.1910: At Fleetwood landed 50 boxes.
7.1.1911: At Fleetwood landed 50 boxes and 380 pairs of soles.
2-5.1911: Along with Boston trawlers FISHTOFT (BN94), INDIAN (BN90) and ANGERTON (BN92) on charter to Bookless Brothers Ltd, Aberdeen/Sheffield fishing out of Hafnarfjörður, Iceland.
1912: Daniel Walker designated manager.
23.12.1913: At Boston Borough Police Court, Thomas Hiley, California Place, Skirbeck, fisherman was fined 40s and 20s 6d costs for stealing two balls of twine from the trawler HUNGARIAN. Twine had been going missing from the trawler for some time.
11.1914: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (1-6pdr) (Ad.No.525). Based Larne, Co. Antrim.
4.3.1916: At Larne, struck by mail steamer PRINCESS MAUD (1655grt/1904), when swinging in the harbour on arrival from Stranraer. Sustained damage to shell plating on the port quarter, but seaworthy.
By 12.3.1919: Returned to owner at Boston.
21.10.1919: Offered for sale by auction at the Baltic Exchange, London by Messrs Kellocks, with the steam trawlers, FISHTOFT (BN94), ETRURIAN (BN85) and CAMBRIAN (BN75). No change of ownership so possibly failed to reach reserve.
1920: Fred Parkes, Wyburton designated manager.
1922: Sold to E. Lombard, Arcachon. Boston registry closed. Registered at Arcachon as VILLE D’ARCACHON II.
1922: Remeasured 193g. 58n.
By 1930: Sold to Armement G. Verdet, Arcachon. LR 1930-31 annotated “ Now a pontoon “.

Click to enlarge image

S.T. Hungarian BN89

S.T. Hungarian BN89

Changelog
03/07/2021: Page published.
04/07/2021: Added an image.