The Fleetwood Motor Trawler Site

By 1935, fish stocks in the North Sea were in decline and the older trawling companies engaged in this fishery were experiencing financial difficulties. This was particularly true of the pioneers, Kelsall Brothers & Beeching Ltd and their associated company, Hull Steam Fishing & Ice Co Ltd, and the former was forced to sell off some of its vessels. Six were sold to Brixham Trawlers Ltd, Brixham, managed by Dugdall & Son and the first of these vessels to arrive in Brixham in February 1936 was the Owl (H801, but on 6 March 1936 the two Hull companies were placed in voluntary liquidation and as a result two further vessels were purchased bringing the Brixham Trawler fleet to eight; the Auk (H755), Ibis (H764), Kite (H773), Pintail (H982), Ruff (H34), Thrush (H703) and Vireo (H446).

The trawlers were a success at Brixham but the harbour authorities failed to keep their promise to dredge and improve the quay, where only one trawler could land at a time, and also to provide a slipway for maintenance. Once again it was the high cost of bunker coal and of transporting their catches to the market that convinced the company that they had to move and in December 1937 it was announced that they would move to Fleetwood with the eight trawlers. By early 1938, Brixham Trawlers was established in the port, and with the demise of Kelsall Brothers & Beeching they retained the familiar ‘Camecock’ funnel marking and Hull registration for all the steam trawlers, remaining an independent company until 1960 when they were taken over by the Boston Group.

Funnel – Black with ‘Gamecock’ flag, Red on White
Hull – Steam trawlers, Black. Motor Trawlers, Blue with White line

Funnel Colours

Brixham Trawlers Limited Funnel Colours