SEA LARK M119
Official No: 104118 Port Number and Year: 4th in Milford, 1896
7th in Swansea, 1900 (SA4)
Description: Steel side / beam trawler; steam screw; coal burner. Schooner rigged: foresail, mainsail, mizzen
Crew: 9 men (1896)
Registered at Milford: 11 May 1896
Built: John Duthie, Sons & Co., York Place, Aberdeen, 1894. (Yard no. 183)
Tonnage: 154.22 gross 40.34 net
Length / breadth / depth (feet): 101.9 / 20.5 / 11
Engine: C-2Cyl, 45hp, by Clyne Mitchell & Co., Aberdeen.
Owners:
11 May 1896: Thomas Ridley Oswald, Castle Hall, Castle Pill.
Managing owner.
20 Sep 1899: Swansea Steam Trawling Pure Ice & Cold Storage Co., Cambrian Chambers, Swansea.
Manager: Thomas R. Oswald, Castle Hall, Castle Pill, Milford.
30 Sep 1900: As SA4
As DUGONG AC ?
5 Apr 1907: Soc. des Pecheries du Golfe de Gascogne, Arcachon.
As PEN-MEN ?
1920: Oscar Dahl, La Rochelle.
Landed at Milford: 19 May 1896 - 23 Apr 1901
Skippers:
Wallace Watson, cert 3677, age 30, born Hull; residing Charles St., Milford; signed on 11 May, 7 Jul 1896.
Fred A Walker, 2344 (4332?), 36, Lynmouth; Green Tce., Hubberston, Hakin; 1 Apr 1898; 29 Jan
W. Postle 3612, 37, Norfolk; St. Ann's Rd., Hakin; 21 Jan, 17 Jul 1900.
George C. Nichols 5538, 39, Stamford; 11 Dec 1900
E. G. Walker 3445, 36, Brighton; 21 Dec 1900.
Notes:
Named as both SEA LARK and SEALARK.
28 Dec 1913: The skipper of the DUGONG mistook the d'Ars light for those of those of the La Palisse building.
1923-24: Broken up.
[ Information from "Aberdeen Built Ships" website. ]
Cert. Cancelled & Milford Registry Closed: 30 Sep 1900. Vessel transferred to the port of Swansea.
Accidents and Incidents:
From the Aberdeen Weekly Journal of Tuesday, April 7, 1896; Issue 12852.
NEW TRAWLER FOR SOUTH-WEST OF ENGLAND FISHING.― On Thursday forenoon a trawler to be named the Sea Lark, built to the order of Mr. T. R. Oswald, Milford Haven, will be launched from the yard of Messrs. J. Duthie, Sons & Co., Aberdeen. The vessel is 110ft. long, 20ft. 6in. broad, and 11ft. 3in. deep, and will have a displacement of 260 tons. It will be fitted with all the latest modern appliances for the prosecution of trawling on the south-west coast of England, and in the Bay of Biscay, and will be constructed to class of 100 A1 at Lloyd's.
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From the South Wales Daily Post of Tuesday 17th January 1899:
The steam trawler Sea Lark put into Swansea on Monday with the loss of her deck gear and boat.
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From The Cambrian of Friday 8th September 1899:
THE SWANSEA STEAM TRAWLING, PURE ICE & COLD STORAGE COMPANY.
AN IMPORTANT NEW INDUSTRY.
AN OPPORTUNITY FOR INVESTORS.
……..
The share capital of the Swansea Company will be £35,000, divided into 35,000 shares of £ 1 each. The directors are gentlemen well known throughout South Wales and the North of England; they have had valuable experience in this particular trade, and may be relied upon to do what is best. The managing director will be Mr. P. Molyneux, of Swansea and Milford Haven; chairman, Mr. T. C. Eley, High-street, Swansea, (director of the Swansea Hide and Skin Co., Ltd., and president of the Swansea Butchers' and Cattle Dealers' Association), and the other directors are Mr. Edward Harris, Swansea, Morriston and Port Talbot, and Mr. T. R. Oswald, Castle Hall, Milford Haven, steam trawler owner. We understand that Mr. Oswald will join the board after allotment. The Company have arranged to acquire from Mr. Oswald the "Sea Mew", "Sea Lark," and "Sea Hawk," which are well-equipped modern steam trawlers of the largest type, specially constructed of steel, and of the highest class at Lloyd's.
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Log book entries:
04.01.1900
Friday. While fishing off the Saltees Light Vessel, the main feed pipe burst at 2. p.m. On Saturday 5th, the donkey pump gave out being disables all night. Got into Dublin on Sunday at 2 p.m. All right without any help. The wind fresh from the SE.
F. A. Walker (Skipper)
18.12.1900
Milford Haven. In the Harbour, sheltering.
Lost anchor and 100 fathom of trawl warp through catching a cable in the Haven.
F. A. Walker (Skipper)
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From The Cambrian of Friday 30th August 1901.
The trawler Sea Lark landed at Swansea, on Friday morning no less than 112 turbot, valued at £50. They were caught off Lundy Island, and form a record for the new Swansea fishing industry.
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From The Cambrian of Friday 18th May 1906.
“I MUST HAVE BEEN MAD!"
FISHERMAN WHO STOLE BOOTS, LAMP AND LIFE BELT.
At Swansea on Saturday Kennith [sic] McLord, fisherman, of the trawler Sea Lark, was charged with stealing a pair of set of boots, value 25s., the property of E. Harris. Complainant identified the boots (produced) as those he had missed. Night-watchman Wm. Edmonds, saw defendant leave the Sea Hawk with the boots. He said he had bought them for eighteen pence.
When arrested by Dock Constable Joyner, defendant replied, "I don't know what I've done; I must have been mad." Defendant was under the influence of drink, the officer said. He was then further charged with stealing a lamp, life belt, and five lamp glasses, value 22s., belonging to the Swansea Fish and Ice Co.
Ed. Saddler identified the missing articles and said defendant was in the employ of the Company. Wm. Edmonds, night-watchman, remarked that when he asked defendant to return the articles he refused to do so, and made use of a filthy expression. When Dock Constable Joyner charged defendant with stealing the articles, he made no reply.
Ed. Saddler, for the Company, said that a lot of pilfering had been going on from their boats.
The magistrates considered the case a bad one, and sent defendant to prison for a month on each charge.
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