LYNMOUTH BL5

 Accidents and Incidents

The Times, Tuesday, Mar 12, 1912; pg. 6; Issue 39844; col F
    

    

ILLEGAL TRAWLING OFF CORNWALL.― For fishing within the three-mile limit off the north coast of Cornwall John Henry Bentley, master of the steam trawler Akraness, of Fleetwood,  was at Bodmin Petty Sessions yesterday fined £20 and costs; Henry Rostron, of the trawler Labore et Honore, of Swansea, was fined £60 and costs; and John William Eden, of Milford Haven, master of the trawler Lynmouth, £30 and costs.  In each case, the offence was committed between Tintagel Head and Trevose Head.  The prosecutions were initiated by the Cornwall Sea Fisheries Committee.

 

[ Note: At current values, the fines were roughly equivalent to £1,285, £3,850 and £1,925 respectively. ]

 

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From the Haverfordwest & Milford Haven Telegraph of Wednesday 1st January 1913:

 

THE GALE FELT AT MILFORD HAVEN

    The gales which have prevailed all round the coast were severely felt at Milford Haven, for the greater part of last week.  ... All the trawlers arriving at the fish market from Thursday onwards numbering about 25 all report terrible weather at sea, from every direction.  The Lynmouth off the Smalls had an awful experience and was almost submerged as was also the Fishergate, and the Solva too reported a similar story of the battle with the mountainous seas.  Almost every vessel was damaged in someway or another, some of course worse than others.  Bridge windows were smashed and gear carried away, and more than one ship had her lifeboat washed away.  Several vessels have had to seek shelter at various places on the Irish coast and those at sea were unable to fish and some of them returned with very small catches for about 15 days.  A few of the boats, which have been on the Portuguese and Morocco grounds, have made good voyages of hake and soles, the Albion grossing £400 on Thursday.  The home waters however are not productive and fish is scarce and unless the weather abates there will be a continued shortage of supply for some time yet.

 

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From the Haverfordwest & Milford Haven Telegraph of Wednesday 18th June 1919:

 

    Some excitement was manifested on the Milford Docks during last week when it became known that Messrs. Sellick, Morley and Price were disposing of their fleet of steam trawlers.  For a considerable time negotiations had been proceeding with the Consolidation Company of Grimsby, but these recently fell through.  It is gratifying to know that the greater portion of the fleet has been retained for the port, as will be seen from the following list.  Several local gentlemen having come forward, the competition was very keen.

    The Alnmouth, Weigelia, and Exmouth have been sold to Fleetwood firms, while the Charmouth, Macaw, Tacsonia, Rosa, Xylopia, Essex, Uhdea, Petunia, Lynmouth, Kalmia, Portsmouth, Weymouth, Syringa, Yarmouth and Magnolia have all found local buyers.

    This opens out the question of the need for local trades people and others to invest in the staple industry of this fishing port, as has been done in competing fishing centres.

 

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From an unknown local newspaper, dated Monday 3rd November 1919:

 

    Whilst both sides have accepted arbitration in the Skippers' and Mates' strike, there is still a period until it will become clear who has won, and what.  Meanwhile in Milford the Docks have been as busy as bees, getting the vessels to sea as quickly as possible.  Two steamers, the Magnolia and Lynmouth are fitting out, not to dash to sea, but to new Scarborough owners.

 

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From the West Wales Guardian of Friday 23rd January 1920:

 

    A tragic affair was made known at Milford Haven on Tuesday morning, when the steam trawler "Lynmouth" arrived in dock.  Skipper Goffin reported that one of the crew, Bertie Picton, was drowned at sea the previous day. 

    It appears that the unfortunate man was leaving the wheelhouse when he fell into the surging sea.  His shipmates, seeing his predicament, threw out a line, but it would seem that he must have struck the bulwark in his fall and was stunned, because he made no attempt to respond to the crew's efforts.  Moreover, he was regarded as a very strong swimmer.

    Deceased was the son of Mr. John Picton, Priory Hill, and was well known in Milford.  He went to France with his unit, the Pembrokeshire R.G.A., rising to the rank of sergeant in his battery, and for his gallantry was awarded the M.M.  He was about 32 years of age and single, and was formerly a prominent football player.  Since boyhood he had worked on the fish market, and only recently went to sea, this in fact being his second trip.

    Deep sympathy is felt for the relatives in their grief.

 

 

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