HMCo #6p Ospray [Osprey]

"[ANEMONE] was followed by many steam launches and by three fishing steamers of larger size than SEVEN BROTHERS. Their names were OSPREY, KING FISHER, and WILLIAM SPICER." (Source: Herreshoff, N. G. "The Old Tannery and My Brother John." Written July 28, 1933. In: Pinheiro, Carlton J. (ed.). Recollections and Other Writings by Nathanael G. Herreshoff. Bristol, 1998, p. 24.)

"A new steamer, built at Mr. J. B. Herreshoff's boat works, will be launched from his yard this morning at quarter past nine o'clock." (Source: Anon. "Local Tintypes." Bristol Phoenix, April 22, 1871, p. 2.)

"This company was started about the middle of January last with a capital of about ten thousand dollars to carry on the business of catching menhaden fish in the vicinity of Narragansett Bay and along the coast of Maine. The 'Seven Brothers' [#3p] was the pioneer in this business. She was built last year by Mr. John B. Herreshoff, of this town, and proved remarkably successful.
The new steamer, by the same builder, is intended to be an improvement, being larger and more, fully equipped. She is seventy-three feet long over all, fifteen and a half feet wide, and six feet three inches deep. Her hull is built in the most substantial manner --- frames of white oak, eighteen inches apart from centres, sided three inches and a half and moulded four, her deck beams are also of oak and her deck is of pine, two inches thick. Her planking is of oak and yellow pine, two inches and an inch and three-quarters thick. Her fastenings are of galvanized iron entirely. The forward part of the vessel is fitted up for the accommodation of the crew. She will carry in her hold about five hundred and fifty barrels of fish and on deck about one hundred and fifty more. She is fitted with a direct acting single engine built by the New York Safety Steam Power Company. Diameter of cylinder twelve inches; length of stroke sixteen inches. It has a patent balance piston valve, with improved reversing gear. Diameter of the shaft four and three eights inches; diameter of propeller, fifty-six inches, with three blades eight feet pitch. The boiler is of the upright tubular form, built by Campbell, Whittier & Co., Boston, eight feet high, five feet in diameter, and has one hundred and sixty-six two inch tubes. Consumption of coal one hundred and seventy-five pounds an hour, with an average pressure of seventy-five pounds.
She has also a small independent steam pump, for pumping water into the boiler, and other purposes and also a small engine of about four horse power, in the pilot house, to be used for loading and unloading fish. She is to be sloop rigged, her sails to be used in connection with her steam power, at times. Her apparatus for condensing is the same applied by Mr. Herreshoff so successfully to all the steam yachts he has built. It consists of about fifty feet of pipe running along by the keel of the boat, constantly exposed to the water. She has a tank which holds five hundred gallons' of water, which amount, by means of the condensing apparatus, can be made to last ten or twelve days. All the machinery was contracted for and placed in position by the builder.
The steamer was most successfully launched from the yard of Mr. Herreshoff, last Saturday [April 22, 1871] morning at a quarter before ten o'clock. The ceremony of christening her was performed with much spirit and grace by Miss Louisa M. Gibson, of this town, by breaking a bottle of wine at the bow and recitating the following verses, written for the occasion:
'I name the Ospray ---from the shore
We follow thee with kindest wishes ---
Good fortune tend thee evermore
And fill thy hold with lots of fishes.
So may the Sea-Hawk homeward fly
With ocean's harvest deeply laden,
And ne'er a harm her keel come nigh ---
But luck and plenty of Menhaden."
After the launch she was taken in tow by the little steam yacht 'Anemone' [#4p] and towed around the harbor, to the supreme enjoyment of the large party on board.
The Steamer is to be commanded by Capt. Geo. Nickerson, of Tiverton, R. I., whose fishing record for the last three years has been very high.
There are three or four other steamboats now preparing by other parties for the same business.
Since the middle of January Mr John B. Herreshoff has built, and is building seven sailboats, eighteen feet long for parties in Boston and in this vicinity; two, twenty feet long, and seven large row boats, from 12 to 24 feet long.
He is also now building a steam yacht [#7p Julia or #8p Actinia?] for Mr. F. S. Stevens, of Swansea, forty-two feet long. Dr. Sisson's yacht, the Shadow [#187106es], is now fitting out and rigging. She is of new model differing in many respects from the usual style and very satisfactory results are expected of her." (Source: Anon. "Bristol Steam Fishing Company And Their New Steamer. Yachting Items." Bristol Phoenix, April 29, 1871, p. 2.)

"A large number of our citizens at the 'south end' last Saturday [April 22, 1871] morning to witness the launching of the new steamer Ospray." (Source: Anon. "Local Tintypes." Bristol Phoenix, April 29, 1871, p. 2.)

"The new steamer Ospray, built by Mr. John B. Herreshoff, and launched from his yard April 22d, made her trial trip on Friday of last week [May 12, 1871]. On Saturday she made an excursion to several points on the Bay, having a select party on board, who speak in the highest terms of praise of her sailing qualities." (Source: Anon. "Local Tintypes." Bristol Phoenix, May 20, 1871, p. 2.)

"From the Providence Journal we learn that a beautiful steam yacht called the Osprey, was launched at the yard of Mr. John B. Herreshoff, Saturday [April 22, 1871] morning. The Osprey is 73 feet in length by 15 1-2 feet breadth of beam and is a fine model of beauty and workmanship. The yachts is owned by parties in Bristol and vicinity, and is intended for the fishing business. The cost of the vessel, including the working boats which belong to the company, is about $9,000. The yacht will be towed to Wickford this week, where she will receive her engine and machinery. She will be completed in season to commence summer fishing." (Source: Anon. "Bristol." Newport Daily News, April 25, 1871.)

"The fishing boat Prudence [#186406es], sunk on the 15th of November near Warwick, was raised on Sunday last and towed into our harbor by the steamer Osprey [#6p]. Except the scraping of the bottom of the boat, the Prudence was not very badly injured." (Source: Anon. "Local Lines." Bristol Phoenix, December 2, 1871, p. 2.)

"A meeting of the stockholders of this Company was held in Providence Tuesday, January 9th, by virtue of a previous notice. A full board were present. Mr. Wm. M. Bailey was elected President; Lewis Herreshoff, Treasurer and Secretary; C. F. Herreshoff, C. F. Eaton, Wm. M. Bailey, J. G. Nickerson, and A. Jacobs, Jr., as a board of Directors. The charter was accepted, the capital fixed at $9,000, and the by­laws framed, &c. A vote was passed to increase the capital stock of the Company as soon as a sufficient amount is subscribed to build a new boat, of which amount $4,000 is already guaranteed.
The steamer Ospray [#6p], built for this Company last year, has proved herself in every respect, exactly what is desired in the business; and the result s of the season's fishing have been equally satisfactory. She has caught during the last season, 17,000 barrels of fish, with gross proceeds of $10,000, of which one half is divided among the fishermen, and the rest to the Company. After paying the expenses of the steamer for the past season, and a part of the outfit of seines for the next, a dividend of 20 per cent, was paid to the stockholders. The new boat is to be built in this town and will be exactly like the Ospray, in dimensions and outfit. She will be called the Cormorant [sic, i.e. apparently #9p King Fisher]. The fish of next season's catch of both boats, are all contracted for, on better terms than for the past season. It is therefore but reasonable to hope for more favorable results." (Source: Anon. "Bristol Steam Fishing Co." Bristol Phoenix, January 13, 1872, p. 2.)

"Steamers Ospray [#6p] and Kingfisher [#9p], of the Narragansett Fishing Company, will leave here for the Eastern fishing ground about the 10th of June." (Source: Anon. "Local Tintypes." Bristol Phoenix, May 25, 1872, p. 2.)

"On Tuesday [June 11, 1872] last the steamers Ospray [#6p], Captain Nickerson, and the Kingfisher [#9p], Captain Almy, of the Narragansett Fishing Company, sailed from this port for Booth Bay, Maine, to commence their summer fishing season, both steamers taking out a full complement of fishermen for the work." (Source: Anon. "Locals." Bristol Phoenix, July 15, 1872, p. 2.)

"The Fishing Steamers Ospray [#6p], Captain George F. Nickerson, and Kingfisher [#9p], Captain Darwin Almy, arrived at this port last Monday [September 23, 1872], after a very successful cruise of three months duration on the Coast of Maine. The catch, of both steamers, was twenty seven thousand and five hundred barrels, the proceeds of which amounted to eighteen thousand dollars. Capt Nickerson has the honor of being 'high hook' this year, which position is furiously fought for by all the fishermen. A few facts will show the enormous quantity of fish taken by these steamers in this short season. They number eight millions. If placed nose and tail in a line, it would extend more than sixteen hundred miles. Their total weight would be nearly three thousand tons. The entire population of Bristol might each eat five menhaden a day (which would be all they would want) and at that rate the stock would last them a year. The steamers are to undergo a few repairs and then fish in Narragansett Bay until the 10th of November." (Source: Anon. "Local Lines." Bristol Phoenix, September 28, 1872, p. 2.)

"... In 1870, the Herreshoffs built the fishing steamer, the 'Seven Brothers,' [#3p] (named for the seven boys in the family,) which revolutionized the industry in a great measure. Her success led to the organization, January, 1871, of the Bristol Steam Fishing Company, of which several of the Herreshoffs were members. But their growing boat-building business soon required all their attention, and the fishing enterprise, which has since grown to be one of the foremost of its kind in the world, is now conducted by the famous Church family, of Tiverton. The 'Osprey' followed, in 1871, and other steamers of the new type, which proved so successful that there are now a hundred or more such in commission along the coast. ..." (Source: Wellesley, Walter. "The Wizards of the Water Witches." Success, August 19, 1899, p. 629-630.)

"[Item Description:] Checkbook titled Bristol Steam Fishing Company, related to fishing steamer #6p OSPRAY." (Source: Bristol Steam Fishing Co. (creator). Checkbook. Herreshoff Marine Museum Collection Acc. 86.223. HMM Library Rare Books Room (Box 1), Folder [no #]. 1872 - 1874.)
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"[Item Description:] letter from Switzerland, about to move away from Geneva, 'what a crowd of business you have had since you began with the [#6p] OSPREY', 'your new enterprise on the coast of Maine', 'at the time Johnny [JBH] built the [#186407es] QUI VIVE ...', cost of living in U.S., life at Conservatoire, Schuloff's 'Tarantella', music, children, Charlie sent two pictures home and keeps sketching" (Source: Brownell, Henriette. Letter to (Herreshoff), Lewis. Herreshoff Marine Museum Collection Item LIB_6390. HMM Library Rare Books Room (Various), Folder [no #]. 1873-03-19.)
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"[Item Description:] Very detailed building account of steamer [#13p WILLIAM SPICER] being built on moulds of [#6p] OSPRAY and [#9p] KINGFISHER, Frank has finished two more engines, brother James has been experimenting with the worm [coil] boiler also with the #12p CREST's boiler, description of boiler, tried with superheated steam and a red-hot 'worm', 'I have come to the conclusion that a worm used in this way is the best invention for a boiler that has ever been used [and] think Jimmie has done extremely well', Apr. 19: brother Jas has further experimented and we'll put a 60ft [coil] boiler into CREST, Jim has filed a 'caviat' for it and given me the right to manufacture, he reserves 1/2 interest for himself and the remaining one to be divided between you, Pa, Francis and myself, N.Y. Herald article about the race [with HELEN] we recognized as having been written by Lewis, we have numerous inquiries about HELEN, also: Dear Brother Lewis, thanks for interest you take in new fishing steamer, ref. to NGH & Lewis trip abroad." (Source: Herreshoff, J.B. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_07830. Correspondence, Folder 25, formerly 212. 1874-04-12.)
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"N/A"

"[Item Description:] [On NGH, 6 Walley St stationery:] Recollections of N. G. Herreshoff, at launcing of Fishing Str. Ospray [#6p], Lewis Herreshoff Agt., Christened by Miss Louisa ('Luen') Gibson, later Mrs. Pratt, verses bh L[ewis] H[erreshoff], spring of 1871[-04-22], (I was not present, being at Corlis St. Eng. Co.), I name thee Ospray! We, from the Shore, Follow Thee with kindly Wishes!, May fortune follow ever more!, And fill thy hold with lots of Fishes!,(Then Crack of Bottle), (Note[:] A second stanza was added beginning 'And so the Sea-Hawk homeward flys', I don't recollect, and really unwise, For a tumult always occurs after the 'breaking of bottle', N.G.H.)" (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Note. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRRT_050. Unidentif. / Non-Cataloged, Folder MRRT. 1937-10-22.)
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Note: This list of archival documents contains in an unedited form any and all which mention #6p Ospray [Osprey] even if just in a cursory way. Permission to digitize, transcribe and display is gratefully acknowledged.

• Ospray (HMCo-made index card)
• Ospray (MIT Museum-made index card)
• Note: The vessel index cards comprise two sets of a total of some 3200 cards about vessels built by HMCo, with dimensions and information regarding drawings, later or former vessel names, and owners. They were compiled from HMCo's early days until 1920 and added to in later decades, apparently by Hart Nautical curator William A. Baker and his successors. While HMCo seems to have used only one set of index cards, all sorted by name and, where no name was available, by number, later users at MIT apparently divided them into two sets of cards, one sorted by vessel name, the other by vessel number and greatly expanded the number of cards. Original HMCo cards are usually lined and almost always punched with a hole at bottom center while later cards usually have no hole, are unlined, and often carry substantially less information. All cards are held by the Francis Russell Hart Nautical Collections of the MIT Museum in Cambridge, Mass.

Year: 1871
E/P/S: P
No.: 006
Name: Ospray
OA: 72'-6"

Source: Vermilya, Peter and Maynard Bray. "Transcription of the HMCo. Construction Record." Unpublished database, ca. 2000.

Note: The transcription of the HMCo Construction Record by Peter Vermilya and Maynard Bray was performed independently (and earlier) than that by Claas van der Linde. A comparison of the two transcriptions can be particularly useful in those many cases where the handwriting in the Construction Record is difficult to decipher.