ROLLO M203

 

Courtesy of Vera Jones

Official No:  110907    Port Number and Year: 55th in Grimsby, 1899 (GY647)

                                                                                6th in Milford, 1928

Description: Iron side trawler; steam screw, coal burning. Ketch rigged: mizzen.  Wheelhouse aft.

Crew:  9 men

Registered: 10 Jul 1928

Built: 1899 by Cochrane & Cooper, Beverley.  (Yard no. 251)

Tonnage: 166.88 grt  65.72 net.

Length / breadth / depth (feet):101 / 21 / 11

Engine: T 3-Cyl. 55 nhp.10 kts.  Engine and boiler by Charles D. Holmes & Co., Hull

Owners:

 

As GY647

1899: George F. Sleight, Fish Docks, Grimsby

 

As M203

10 Jul 1928: Robert G. Yabsley, 49 Charles St., Milford

Andrew Hannaford Ward Clark, 5 Charles St., Milford

 

25 Jul 1928: Andrew Hannaford Ward Clark, Docks, Milford

 

14 Dec 1934: Elizabeth Ann Heck Owens, 'Westcliffe', Wellington Rd., Hakin

Manager Owner

 

Landed at Milford: 23 Jun 1926 - 20 Dec 1935

Skippers:

Notes: 1914 - 1918: Fishery trawler

3 Jan - 22 Feb1936: Laid up. 

22 Feb 1936: Broken up at Ward's Yard, Castle Pill

Cert. Cancelled & Registry Closed: 30 Aug 1937

Accidents and Incidents

From The Irish Times of 16th May 1934, p.7

 

BRITISH TRAWLER ARRESTED

 

BROUGHT TO CASTLETOWNBERE

 

From our Correspondent

                                                                        BANTRY, Tuesday

 

    The British steam trawler Rollo, Milford Haven, was arrested by Sergeant McCabe, Castletownbere, Cork, and brought into Castletownbere under armed escort.  It appears that the sergeant and several men were hiding aboard a local trawler owned by Mr. McFarland.  Mr. McFarland brought his boat alongside the British trawler and got into conversation with the captain. While this was going on the Guards jumped out of their hiding place and the skipper was covered by an armed detective.  The captain surrendered.

    A special court will be held at Bantry, where the captain and crew, who are being brought from Castletownbere, will be brought up.

 

From The Irish Times of 18th May 1934, p.13

ILLEGAL TRAWLING

 

ENGLISH SKIPPER FINED AT BANTRY

 

    Walter Smyth, skipper of the British steam trawler Rollo, Milford Haven, was convicted, at a special court in Bantry yesterday, on a charge of illegal trawling by fishing within the exclusive fishing limits of Saorstat Eireann.  This was the first charge of the kind under the Fishery Act, 1933, and much local interest was taken in the case.

    Alexander McFarland, owner of a local trawling boat, gave evidence in detail of many occasions when he saw the trawler Rollo illegally fishing within the limits.

    Sergeant McCabe described how he, with other Guards, hid in McFarland's boat and go alongside the Rollo.  When McFarland got into conversation with the skipper they got on board the Rollo and placed the crew under arrest.  The skipper said: "You have got me all right this time.  Perhaps it would simplify matters if I said I was poaching."

    Mr. Hegarty, solicitor for defendant, said that Smyth was old, and his time for captaining fishing vessels had nearly run, and would run much faster if a heavy penalty were imposed.  The owners expected him to give a certain amount of value, so as to be kept in the job.  Having been fishing a considerable time with very poor results, he was tempted to come within the Free State limits.

    Mr. Healy, solicitor for the Minister for Lands and Fisheries, said that the piracy of these vessels did incalculable damage to the local fishing industry.

    The Justice imposed a fine of £50, and ordered the gear and fish to be forfeited.

 

 

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