Author Archives: George Armitage

sv Fanny – ?? ??

Technical and historical information needed about this vessel. Please contact webmaster@fleetwood-trawlers.info

Additional information courtesy of Christine Simm

Technical
Official Number: 6741
Completed: 1849
Net Tonnage: 31nrt

History
1849: Completed at Sandwich as FANNY.
20.5.1850: Registered at Hull O.N.6471.
By 1860: Hull registry closed. Registered at Fleetwood.
22.8.1860: Fishing off Blackpool in company with the smack MACKEREL. In the evening a severe gale setup and they were forced to stop fishing. Sighted the schooner CATHERINE (115nrt/1845) of Dundalk (Adair, master) in distress with fore and main topmasts carried away and in only five fathoms of water; the schooner had sailed from Fleetwood that day. The smacks closed, connected and commenced tow to Fleetwood, bringing her near Shell Wharf.
23.8.1860: In the morning, CATHERINE brought into harbour by the paddle tug ADJUTANT (80grt/1858).
By 1870: Owned by James Clarke, 11 Lester Street, Liverpool. Fleetwood registry closed. Registered at Liverpool. Possibly trading.
1887: No longer in MNL.

Changelog
01/02/2023: Page published.

sv Mackerel – ?? ??

Additional information courtesy of Christine Simm

Technical
Official Number: 17221
Completed: 1831
Net Tonnage: 23 nrt
Remeasured: 17nrt
Rig; Smack – trawling
Built: ??, Whitehaven

History
1831: Completed at Whitehaven.
7.4.1850: Registered at Whitehaven O.N.17221. Owned by Ebenezer Cox, Fleetwood.
28.2.1854: Fishing off the Isle of Man (Sk. Jones, Hoylake). Brought into Whitehaven the brigantine RICHARD WRIGHT (Capt Violet) of St. John’s, New Brunswick, bound Liverpool for Boston with coals and salt, picked up with her sails set a short distance SW of the Calf of Man. From the extent of damage along the whole length of the starboard side, the bulwarks of which were stove in, it was evident that she had been run into by another vessel. Both topgallant masts were snapped off, her main rigging torn from the plates and much other damage.
2.3.1854: Having telegraphed the Liverpool agents of the RICHARD WRIGHT, Capt. Violet, the master arrived in Whitehaven. Capt. Violet stated that they left Liverpool on 25th February and about midnight on the 27th the mate on watch saw an approaching vessel and hailed her to put her helm about; there was no response and a collision ensued, the RICHARD WRIGHT being crushed under the water. Capt Violet and his crew managed to reach the other vessel, which proved to be the brigantine VIOLANTE (115nrt/1853)(Kelly, master), from Liverpool for Troon. Capt Violet asked Capt Kelly to stand by to determine the fate of his ship but he refused and put back to Liverpool arriving on the 28th, the same day the RICHARD WRIGHT was brought into Whitehaven. The VIOLANTE had part of her starboard bulwarks carried away, lost her jib-boom and figurehead in the collision.
6.2.1855: Reported that at Whitehaven Police Court, Sk. John Wilson, fisherman Henry Croft and Sk. Rueben Ball of another smack in Whitehaven, were charged with stealing a quantity of rope from the smack. They had been observed by P.C. Heslop removing the rope from the smack and he watched them take it to the shop of a marine dealer, Fox. P.C. Heslop informed the daughter of Mr Cox and the following day Mr Cox arrived from Fleetwood and Wilson and Croft were taken into custody. The MACKEREL had no reason to put into Whitehaven due to stress of weather and those charged had no right to remove the rope. Wilson and Croft had been employed by Mr Cox for three months. Martha Ward, a servant in the employ of Mr Fox recognised all three men but could not tell which one of them had received the money. Reuben Ball admitted being with the them when they took the rope and as none of them spoke in their defence they were committed for trial at the ensuing Cumberland Assizes.
1859: Whitehaven registry closed. Registered at Fleetwood.
1859: Remeasured 17n.r.t.
1860: Fishing out of Fleetwood.
22.8.1860: Fishing off Blackpool in company with the smack FANNY. In the evening a severe gale setup and they were forced to stop fishing. Sighted the schooner CATHERINE (115nrt/1845) of Dundalk (Adair, master) in distress with fore and main topmasts carried away and in only five fathoms of water; the schooner had sailed from Fleetwood that day. The smacks closed, connected and commenced tow to Fleetwood, bringing her near Shell Wharf.
23.8.1860: In the morning, CATHERINE brought into harbour by the paddle tug ADJUTANT (80grt/1858).
1862: Fleetwood registry closed. Registered at Whitehaven.
16.1.1869: Two fishermen from the smack, were drinking in Nag’s Head, public house in Whitehaven the previous night when Robert Robinson, the worst for drink, had an altercation with his wife and struck her a blow which resulted in her death. Both men gave evidence at the subsequent Inquest where the Jury returned a verdict of manslaughter against Robert Robinson.
1865: Owned by James McBain, Whitehaven.
18.1.1869: At Whitehaven Police Court, Robert Robinson was committed for trial on the charge of manslaughter.
1869: Sold to Robert Cowman, Whitehaven.
1870: Sold to William B. Cowman, Whitehaven.
10.8.1877: Trawling standing north from Ravenglass (Sk. John Taylor), running with the strong tide and ahead was the Port Glasgow registered steamer DUNVEGAN CASTLE (255grt/1868)(Capt Duncan Campbell) on the same course. She had sails set, flags up but no smoke and Taylor thought she wanted a pilot. At about 7.00 am hauled the net with the change of tide. The steamer was going ahead but she would not have cleared the South Head as she was making nothing to windward and was dropping to leeward towards the shore. Overhauled the steamer about mid-day, carrying two flags, but could not fetch the vessel on the first reach but fetched her on the second. The wind was slacking with a nasty sea and surf towards the shore. Closed the steamer and said “I think that you’re disabled”. The master said he wanted to put the mate ashore. At this time she was about abreast the Sea Cote Hotel at St. Bees, not at anchor and drifting, between her and Whitehaven lay the South Head and the North Head. She was about a quarter of a mile from the breakers. Taylor put the smack round the steamer and ran across her stern and the mate jumped in the rigging. The smack was run as near to the breakers as possible and the mate was taken ashore in the punt. With the punt recovered the smack beat out to seaward. The DUNVEGAN CASTLE could not beat out of the bay in the state she was and the sail she had. The Whitehaven paddle tug PRINCE OF WALES (152grt/1862) (Capt William Atkinson) at the direction of the mate of the DUNVEGAN CASTLE, who had arrived at the Harbour Master’s Office, with the Harbour Master, Capt Thomas Mann onboard, sailed for St. Bees to give assistance. Arriving off St. Bees at about 3.30pm they found the DUNVEGAN CASTLE at anchor about a mile and three-quarters from the shore and embayed. The steamer was taken in tow and arriving off Whitehaven the master insisted that he was towed to Silloth and when only a couple of miles north there was something wrong with the boiler and the PRINCE OF WALES returned to Whitehaven.
15.9.1877: Fees for salvage claimed and towage contested in court at Wigton, Cumberland. The DUNVEGAN CASTLE was disabled with machinery trouble and under sail at the time of the incident. After hearing from all the witnesses and over five hours in session, the Bench awarded £65 for towage services, which included £5 for the MACKEREL and costs.
1883: Sold to Mrs Helen Paterson, Palnackie, Kirkcudbright.
1884: Sold to James A. Ross, Kyleakin, Isle of Skye.
1894: Sold to Roderick McLeod Kyleakin, Isle of Skye & others.
1899: Whitehaven registry closed.

Changelog
01/02/2023: Page published.

sv Greenport – ?? ??

Additional information courtesy of Christine Simm

Technical

Official Number: 17223.
24 regd tons
Remeasured 20 tons.

History

1845: Completed by Richard Ashburner, Greenodd, Lancashire for Alfred Fell, Ulverston as GREENPORT.
24.2.1949: Registered at Liverpool O.N.17223.
9.5.1851: Landing at Fleetwood.
7.7.1856: Sailed on the morning tide for the fishing grounds. The wind was variable changing direction and freshening throughout the day. At about 11.30pm it started to blow from the north.
8.7.1856: At 12.30am a furious gale suddenly blew up and the Fleetwood fleet, 12 in number, which were lying off Black Combe, north of Duddon Estuary, received considerable damage. Mainsail split. The smacks then laid their vessels under snug canvas and the wind later being favourable for them to reach Fleetwood, left the area. Sailed with jib run up the mainmast.
10.7.1856: Arrived Fleetwood at noon. Most of the fleet had arrived home about 6.00 am without further damage.
26.7.1861: TO BE SOLD BY PRIVATE TREATY, ONE-HALF of the FISHING SMACK “GREENPORT”; she is carvel built, copper fastened, well forwarding Sail and Fishing Tackle, and now Fishing. The above will be sold a bargain. – Application to be made to Mr.Edmund Porter, Ship Broker, &c, Fleetwood.
By 1865: Sold to John Williams, Port Madoc. Liverpool registry closed. Registered at Caernarvon.
1867: Sold to Hugh Hughes, Porthdinllaen, Caernarvonshire.
5.4.1871: Sailed Porthdinllaen for Caernarvon (Hugh Hughes, master). Arrived Caernarvon same day.
1873: Sold to Hugh Jones, Sand Street, Pwllheli.
1883: Not in MNL under this name. FATE?

Changelog
28/01/2023: Page published

sv Mayflower – CT28

Technical and historical information needed about this vessel. Please contact webmaster@fleetwood-trawlers.info

Additional information courtesy of Christine Simm

Technical

Possibly Part IV registered.
Length: 56.00ft
Breadth: 17.00 ft

History

1887: Completed as MAYFLOWER. Owned by Joseph Qualtrough, Port St. Mary and others. Registered at Castletown (CT28).
1887: Sold to T. Gale, Port St. Mary and others.
18.10.1890: Isle of Man Times. FOR SALE, that well known TRAWLBOAT “MAYFLOWER,” of Port St. Mary, built 1887. Length of keel, 56 feet, Beam 17 feet, in good sea-going condition, – For particulars apply, to Mr THOMAS CARINE, Shipbuilder, Port St. Mary, Isle of Man.
21.11.1890: Reported sold to Edward Blackburn, Fleetwood and arrived at the port from Castletown, IoM.
1891: Registered at Castletown to Mary Blackburn, Fleetwood.
19.9.1892: At Kirkham Petty Sessions, John William Anderson, fisherman, was fined 10s and costs for being drunk and creating a disturbance in West Street, Fleetwood.
1893: Registered at Castletown to Edward Blackburn, Fleetwood.
21-22.12.1894: A whole fleet of trawlers and cargoes were lost during the great storm over Europe. Running for home (Sk. Robert Roskell). After a day of severe weather, in the early evening the NW wind strengthened and during the night in storm force conditions (96 mph) driven before the wind and foundered in the vicinity of Shell Wharf. Wreckage, jiggermast and spire of mainmast, found at Shell Wharf Back by smack HARRIET (FD111) one of the trawlers at sea to search for survivors. Other boats of the Fleetwood fleet lost that day. PETREL (FD59) driven ashore off Gynn, Blackpool. Skipper Richard Wright drowned. SUSPRISE (FD15) (Sk. William Baxter) foundered off Cumberland coast/in Morecambe Bay. Crew lost.
1894: Fleetwood registry closed.
28.6.1895: Body of James Ball recovered at St. Anne’s-on-the-Sea.

Lost* – Skipper Robert Roskell, Blakiston Street; John Roskell, North Church Street; George Bond, Garfield Street and James Ball, Cross Street. All were married and leave eleven orphans.
Smack at time of loss valued at about £400.

Changelog
29/11/2022: Page published.

S.T. Auckland – LT445

Seasonal visitor

Technical

Official Number: 109097
Completed: 1899
Gross Tonnage 155
Net Tonnage: 55
Length: 105.0 ft
Breadth: 20.6 ft
Depth: 11.0 ft
Engine: T.3-cyl and boiler by Amos & Smith, Hull

History

15.12.1898: Launched by Cook, Welton & Gemmell Ltd, Hull for Hull Steam Fishing & Ice Co Ltd, Hull as AUCKLAND.
1.1899: Completed. Henry Toozes designated manager.
10.1.1899: Registered at Hull (H441).
11.1.1899: Registered Part I.
1914: Requisitioned for war service as a minesweeper (Ad.No.648). Based Liverpool.
1.1.1914: Tonnage altered to 61.0 net under provision of Merchant Shipping Act 1907.
By 12.3.1919: Returned to owner at Hull.
28.3.1919: Sold to Arthur Gouldby, Kessingland & others.
16.5.1919: Hull registry closed.
21.5.1919: Registered at Lowestoft (LT445). Arthur Gouldby designated managing owner.
1930s: Seasonal fishing out of Fleetwood.
12.3.1930: In fine weather, sailed Fleetwood for Morecambe Bay grounds in company with steam drifter/trawler SEASONS’ GIFT (LT127). When in the vicinity of the Lune Lightship SEASONS’ GIFT experienced machinery problem. Responded to signals of distress, closed, connected and commenced tow arriving Fleetwood on the evening tide.
1937: Sold to H. B. Garood, Lowestoft.
4.1937: Sold to Holland for breaking up.
14.4.1937: Lowestoft registry closed “ Sold foreigners for demolition.”

Changelog
26/10/2022: Page published.