1929 — ~Jan 13 , Fishing Trawler Seiner Lost, Georges Bank, out of New London CT–   21

Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 2-6-2025 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/-

–21  Berman, Bruce D.  Encyclopedia of American Shipwrecks. 1972, p. 85.

–21  Port Arthur News (TX). “Hope Abandoned for Ship and Crew of 21,” Feb 10, 1929, p. 22.

–21  US Steamboat-Inspection Service. Annual Report of the Supervising Inspector… 6-30-29.

–20  Sheedy, R.  “The Seiner.”  Out of Gloucester.

Narrative Information

Sheedy: “Hope that the missing beam trawler Seiner and her crew of 20 are still safe was practically abandoned yesterday, with the announcement by President John Graham of the Portland Trawling Company, at New London, Conn., that a damaged lifeboat from the missing craft was dragged up on the southeast part of Georges in 35 fathoms of water, Thursday afternoon.  Simultaneously, Coast Guard officers at New London announced that the extensive Coast Guard search, which has been carried on for the Seiner during the past week, was brought to an end.

….

“The finding of the lifeboat is the first definite trace of the Seiner since January 13, when it was last reported by radio.  The craft sailed from New London January 9, and was due to make port January 22.  President Graham declined to give out the crew list of the vessel.  The exact position where the Seiner‘s lifeboat was dragged to the surface was given at latitude 41.05 and longitude 6710.

“Mrs. Hazel Greenleaf on this city, wife of Capt. Merill Greenleaf, who is mate on the Seiner, received word of the finding of the lifeboat through her family physician…” 

US Steamboat-Inspection Service. Annual Report of the Supervising Inspector General. P.16:

“On January 10, 1929, the steam trawler Seiner left New York, N.Y. for the fishing grounds off Georges Banks, with a crew of 21, and was last heard from on January 13, 1929. On January 30 the steamer Brant dragged up the lifeboat belonging to the Seiner. The local inspectors at New London investigated the case and concluded that the Seiner had foundered from some unknown cause with the loss of the entire crew.”

Newspaper

Feb 10, Associated Press: “New London, Conn., Feb 10 (AP).—With no further trace of the trawler Seiner of the Portland Trawling company, President John Graham today announced that hope of finding the vessel afloat had been practically abandoned and search for the craft had been discontinued. The trawler had on board a crew of 21 men. She left here for the Georges fishing banks January 9 and was last heard from by radio January 13.” (Port Arthur News, 2-10-1929, p. 22.)

Sources

Berman, Bruce D. Encyclopedia of American Shipwrecks. Boston: Mariners Press Inc., 1972.

Port Arthur News (TX). “Hope Abandoned for Ship and Crew of 21,” Feb 10, 1929, p. 22. Accessed 2-6-2025 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/port-arthur-news-feb-10-1929-p-54/

Sheedy, R. “The Seiner.” Out of Gloucester. Accessed 7-24-2011 at:  http://www.downtosea.com/1926-1950/seiner.htm

United States Steamboat-Inspection Service. Annual Report of the Supervising Inspector General, Steamboat-Inspection Service to the Secretary of Commerce for the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 1929.  Washington, DC:  Government Printing Office, 1929.  Digitized by Google.  Accessed at:  http://books.google.com/books?id=oafNAAAAMAAJ