From the Haverfordwest & Milford Haven Telegraph of Wednesday 4th December 1907:

 

    Still they come, with more to follow.  A record in the number of new trawlers arriving has to be chronicled this week.  Last week three fine boats came round:  on Monday, the steam trawler "Urania", built by the Dundee Ship Building Company for the Pembrokeshire Steam Trawling Company, in charge of Captain J. Gardner; on Wednesday the steam trawler "Cleopatra" from the Smith's Dock, for Messrs. D. Pettit and Company (Captain J. Blake); on Thursday, a trawler bearing  the name "Hero" (Captain Hawkins) for Mrs. Harries, Neyland, also from Dundee.  On Tuesday this week came the steam trawler "Dewsland" (Captain Ben Bryant) from the Selby Ship Building Company, to the order of Mr. W. Jenkins and Company, and today another for Mr. D. Pettit and Company, viz., the steam trawler "Calliope" is expected to be brought in by Captain J. Dove, whilst the steam trawler "Gloria", Messrs. Longthorp and James, is said to have left for the fishing grounds.

    During the next few weeks further additions will arrive.  It is well, under the circumstances, that the extension of the Market is proceeding so rapidly.  Another length has been commenced, and will probably be completed by the end of this year.

 

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From The Tenby  Observer of Thursday 21st January 1909:

 

THE NEYLAND FISH TRADE.

    We are pleased to find from conversation with those interested in the promotion of a good fish market and trade at Neyland, that business generally shows every sign of improvement there. Nine boats at present land their catches - five of them belonging to the Neyland Steam Trawling Company, and four to the Pembrokeshire Company. So far the best catch made £283, and was landed from the Urania, belonging to the Pembrokeshire Company; but, unfortunately, against that bit of luck we have to record that the Saluria, which arrived on Friday last, made only £50 after a voyage of twelve days, during ten of which she was constantly steaming; she also lost two trawls, and had to put into a Spanish port for provisions. The Titania, belonging to the same company, was also unfortunate, making only £39 after her last catch. Prices, however, are said to be about the same at Neyland as at Milford Docks, and on Monday the Apsley, belonging to the Neyland Company, made £251, prices being fairly good. It is a matter of regret that the Pater Steam Trawler Company, who have three boats doing fairly well, have not yet given Neyland Market a trial; but it is hoped they will do so before long.

 

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From The Pembrokeshire Herald and General Advertiser of Friday 3rd September 1909:

NEYLAND.

Fishing Industry.- Since Monday, August 23rd, the following boats have come into Neyland and disposed of their catches at the market — the Bush £190, Urania £159, Siluria £117. Slebech £149, Caldy £106, Apley £150, Hero £163, Angle £126, and the Neyland £122. The catches have included several kits of herring, and it is expected that the trawlers will at any time run across the shoal. 

 

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From The Pembrokeshire Herald and General Advertiser of Friday 3rd December 1909:

NEYLAND.

    Fish Trade. — On November 23 the "Hero" landed a catch which realised £214 upon her return from a Morocco trip, and a smack landed a catch which realised £27. On November 24 the "Neyland," after a short trip, landed a catch which realised £69, and five smacks landed catches which fetched £22, £32, £20, £33, and £18 respectively, whilst on the following day another smack came up with a catch worth £31. On November 26th, the "Bush" came in with a catch realising £80, and two smacks with catches realising £19 and £33. On November 27 smacks landed catches realising £24, £18, and £14. On November 29 the "Apley" landed a cargo which fetched £95, and the "Slebech" one fetching £70 whilst two smacks brought catches which realised £10 and £30. On November 30 the "Urania" and the "Caldy" came in, their catches fetching £125 and £101 respectively, whilst seven or eight smacks also came in with good cargoes, one having four trunks of soles.

 

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From The Pembrokeshire Herald and General Advertiser of Friday 18th March 1910:

 

PROFITS, BUT NO DIVIDEND.

Annual Meeting of Neyland Trawling Company.

WORK ON VIRGIN SOIL.

    At the annual ordinary meeting of the shareholders of the Neyland Steam Trawling and Fishing Company held at the Company's offices Neyland, on Tuesday, it was stated that the profit on the year's working amounted to nearly £2,000.

    The Hon. Herbert T. Allsopp (vice-chairman), presided in the absence of Sir Charles Philipps, and the other directors present were: Colonel Fredk. C. Meyrick, Mr. H. E. E. Philipps, Captain Enoch Davies, and Mr. C. W. Rees Stokes. There was a fairly large number of shareholders present.

    ANNUAL REPORT.

    The directors, in their report, stated that they were glad to be able to report that, in spite of the great depression in the fishing industry throughout the kingdom there has been a marked improvement in the working and profits of the Company. The ships, ice factory, and other premises of the Company have been upheld and repaired out of revenue at a cost of £980, and are in a very satisfactory condition. ............... During the year the Company has added workshops, stores, and grocery departments with satisfactory results. In order to minimise as far as possible the difficulties attending the establishment of a new market the directors chartered the steam trawlers Urania, Siluria, Hero, and Neyland, which have materially strengthened the market at Neyland. The facilities offered by Neyland as a fishing port have been recognised by over eighty different sailing vessels, and the number is increasing. The directors have decided to forego their fees, as they did in 1908. The report having been read, Mr. Jones, Pembroke Dock, a shareholder, moved that they go through the report. The Vice-chairman remarked that that was a very unusual course of procedure. Any questions should be asked after the Chairman had made his speech.  ..............

 

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From The Pembrokeshire Herald and General Advertiser of Friday 4th November 1910:

 

MILFORD HAVEN

TRAGEDY AT SEA.

        On Thursday morning a steam trawler, which afterwards transpired to be the "Urania" of Neyland, was observed to be steaming up the harbour with a flag flying at half-mast. When the vessel arrived at Neyland the captain, H. Dodd, reported that whilst at sea his vessel was struck by a very heavy sea which caused her to roll so violently that the cook, Richard Churchill, was thrown down and washed overboard by the waves which enveloped the vessel. Every effort was made to save the unfortunate man but the sea was in such a turmoil that it was quite impossible and he quickly disappeared. The vessel was immediately steered for Neyland where the sad occurrence was reported. Churchill had formerly been in the employ of Messrs. Sellick, Morley, and Price, of Milford Haven, and at that time stayed at the Bethel. At one time he had been in the Royal Artillery and stationed at Pembroke Dock. 

 

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Log book entries:

 

20.02.1910

60 miles W of Fastnet

Carried away boat, and stern light smashed after fishing board and other trawling and fish pound boards and mizzen.  Struck by sea while hove-to.

    Ben Richards (Skipper)

    William Burt (Second Hand)

 

01.11.1910

80 miles NNW of Blaskets

R. Churchill, age 29, Cook; British, born Gloster, residing Milford or Neyland.

Whilst 80 miles NNW of the Blaskets, between 7.30 and 8 a.m., we lost the cook.  No one witness of the accident.

    Henry Dodd (Skipper)

    M. J. Joyce (Second Hand 5562)

 

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Information from Birgir Þórisson, Iceland:

The company Utgerdarfelag K.E.A. h/f.  Akureyri, Iceland, was the ship operating subsidiary of the local co-operative company, which operated over a broad field in wholesale and retail, and industrial production, mainly focusing on agricultural products, but also operated in the fisheries sector, mainly summer herring fisheries. She was not used as a trawler, but instead she was used for herring fishing during the herring season, and transport during the rest of the year. With the outbreak of WW2, she was used to transport fresh fish to Britain. On one such trip, she ran aground in thick fog at Gvendarsker, Faskrudsfjordur, on the east coast of Iceland, on 18 June 1941.

 

 

 

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