HMCo #9p King Fisher [Kingfisher]

"[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 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.)

"... Mr. Herreshoff will also lay the keel for a steamer of the same size and model of the Osprey [#6p] --- work to commence immediately --- intended for the Bristol Steam Fishing Company." (Source: Anon. "Local Tintypes." Bristol Phoenix, February 17, 1872, p. 2.)

"A fine looking, well built steam yacht, called King Fisher, was launched from Mr. J. B. Herreshoff's yard last Monday [April 1, 1872]. Four sailing yachts are now being built in the same yard." (Source: Anon. "Local Tintypes." Bristol Phoenix, April 6, 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.)

"[Abstract of register or enrollment. Pos. 516:]
Kingfisher, steamboat, of Bristol.
Built at Bristol, 1872.
33.23 tons; 67.5 ft. x 15.2 ft. x 6.2 ft. [Register length x breadth x depth.]
One deck, one mast, plain head [bow].
Enr[olled] and Lic[ensed] ([for] C[oastal] T[rade]) June 5, 1872. Owners: Lewis Herreshoff, 1/100, Sarah L. Herreshoff, 8/100, Julian L. Herreshoff, 1/100, and Charles F. Herreshoff, 11/100, of Bristol, Albert L. Almy, 2/100, Erwin Baker, 3/100, Edwin Reynolds, 3/100, C. F. Eaton, 3/100, and James L. Peirce, 3/100, of Providence, Darwin Almy, 3/100, of Tiverton, Joshua C. Card, 3/100, of Wakefield, Job T. Wilson, 30/100, of Fall River, Mass., Catherine L. Kilton, 4/100, Robert Willard, 2/100, and Charles E. Fuller, 12/100, of Boston, Mass., William S. Perry, 4/100, George W. Bucklin, 2/100, H. Pilot, 2/100, H. E. Davis, 2/100, and J. B. Francis Herreshoff, 1/100, of New York, N.Y. Master: Darwin Almy. ([Record at:] C[ustom] H[ouse, Providence]).
Enr[olled] and Lic[ensed] ([for] C[oastal] T[rade]) June 3, 1873. Owners: Lewis Herreshoff, Julian T. Herreshoff, Sarah Herreshoff, and Charles Herreshoff, of Bristol, Albert T. Almy, Erwin Baker, Edwin Reynolds, C. F. Eaton, and James Lewis Pierce of Providence, Darwin Almy of Tiverton, Joshua C. Card of Wakefield, Job Wilson and Fall River Coal Company of Fall River, Catherine L. Kilton, Robert Willard, and Charles E. Fuller of Boston, George W. Bucklin and J. B. Francis Herreshoff of New York, N.Y. Master: same. ([Record at:] C[ustom] H[ouse, Providence]).
Enr[olled] and Lic[ensed] ([for] F[ishing]) June 10, 1874. Owners: Charles F. Herreshoff, 4/100, Julian L. Herreshoff, 1/100, and Sarah L. Herreshoff, 11/100, of Bristol, Albert L. Almy, 2/100, Edwin Reynolds, 3/100, Charles F. Eaton, 3/100, Amasa M. Eaton, 1/100, and James L. Pierce, 3/100, of Providence, Joshua C. Card, 3/100, of Wakefield, Job T. Wilson, 47/100, and Fall River Coal Company, 1/100, of Fall River, Catherine S. Kilton, 4/100, Robert Willard, 2/100, and Charles E. Fuller, 12/100, of Boston, George W. Bucklin, 2/100, and J. B. Herreshoff, 1/100, of New York. Master: Edward Wilson. ([Record at:] C[ustom] H[ouse, Providence]).
Enr[olled] and Lic[ensed] ([for] F[ishing]) June 4, 1875. Owner: Herreshoff Oil and Guano Company. Master: Edward M. Dennis, Tiverton.
Lic[ensed] ([for] F[ishing]) May 31. 1876. Master: same.
Lic[ensed] ([for] C[oastal] T[rade]) May 31, 1877. Master: Isaac I. Fisch,.
Portsmouth, R.I.
Surrendered [license] Apr. 27, 1878 at Newport. ([Record at:] C[ustom] H[ouse, Providence])." (Source: Survey of Federal Archives, Work Projects Administration. Ships Documents of Rhode Island. Bristol. Ship Registers and Enrollments of the Port of Bristol - Warren Rhode Island, 1941, s.v. Kingfisher.)

"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, June 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.)

"The steamer Kingfisher, Captain Brightman, commenced to ply between this port and Providence, as a freight boat, on Saturday last, carrying the freight of the National Rubber Company. We understand she is to make daily trips to and from that city for the present." (Source: Anon. "Local Notes." Bristol Phoenix, November 29, 1879, p. 2.)

"Fall River, Mass., Sept. 15 [1881]. --- The fishing steamer Kingfisher, owned by William J. Brightman & Co., struck a rock in Providence River yesterday and sunk, having stove a hole over 20 feet lone in her bottom. She will be raised." (Source: Anon. "Wreck Of The Kingfisher. She Tripped Her Anchor And Drifted Upon Coney Island Beach." New York Times, September 16, 1881, p. 1.)

"The regular all-the-year-round habitue's of Coeny [sic, i.e. Coney] Island's gilded palaces were much excited yesterday by the wrecking on their strand of the small steamer Kingfisher, with a crew of 12 men. After the Summer season, when wrecks on the bar were not uncommon, the opening of the season for wrecks on the strand was hailed with not the greatest amount of delight, and the driving ashore of the small craft seemed a dismal foreboder of the work of the wind and waves to be expected during the Winter, when sand and concrete, and museums and tintype galleries will be mixed in endless confusion.
The Kingfisher had a voyage which made up for its shortness with abundant liveliness, and the chances are that she will now leave her bones to be washed up into Coney Island's main street. Capt. James B. Church weighed anchor, or more perfectly let go his hold on the pier at Communipaw, Sunday afternoon, and with a good head of steam up steered down the Bay. He had in view the laudable purpose of catching a cargo of menhaden for the Baron Island Manufacturing Company to torture the nostrils of all persons within smelling distance of Barren Island with, and finally to convert into fertilizers. When the squall came up the Kingfisher anchored off Coney Island Point. She is of only 25 tons burden, but she rode out the blow well for several hours. Then when it was about ebb tide yesterday morning the cable got afoul of the anchor, wrestled with it, and in Capt. Church's parlance, 'tripped' it. The Kingfisher at once began to drift toward shore. Capt. Church got the anchor up, and after the cable was adjusted properly it was heaved over again, but did not hold.
At this point Capt. Church ordered what really drove the boat to her destruction. A boat hung at the davits filled with the large fishing net. To steady the vessel, which was rolling heavily, it was lowered. A wave filled it and swept out the net, and the suction of the propeller, which was being worked astern full speed, drew it down. That settled matters, for the net tangled around the propeller, and there was nothing left, but to drift ashore. The Kingfisher struck at 3 o'clock in the morning about 50 yards out, and just west from the west iron pier.
It was no easy matter for the 12 men to get ashore, but it was finally accomplished with no more serious results than a thorough wetting. The Coney Island natives, who had become aware of the Kingfisher's plight, took the crew in in a far different manner from that in which they are commonly credited with taking strangers in. 'In fact.' said Capt. Church, 'we couldn't have been treated better anywhere.' Capt. Church went out to the steamer again, and thought she would stand the pounding on the sandy bottom all right, but about 1 o'clock in the afternoon her seams started and she filled with water. He staid on the beach last night to watch her, but it was feared she would break up. Nothing was saved besides the men's personal effects. The Kingfisher is owned by Capt. Church and is valued at about $6,000, partially covered by insurance. [James B. Church had also been captain of #3p Seven Brothers, the first fishing steamer built in America. Kingfisher was apparently raised and repaired, for she was still listed in the 1928 List of Merchant Vessels.]" (Source: Anon. "Wreck Of The Kingfisher. She Tripped Her Anchor And Drifted Upon Coney Island Beach." New York Times, October 30, 1888, p. 1.)

"... In 1870, the Herreshoffs built the fishing steamer, the 'Seven Brothers,' (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' [#6p] 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:] Prospectus, 8 pages. Trying to raise $10,000 to $12,000 to manufacture fish oil in Round Pond, Maine; company already owns the 'steamer Kingfisher [#9p], with the full equipment for furnishing fish'." (Source: Herreshoff Oil and Guano Co., Lewis Herreshoff Agent (creator). Prospectus. Herreshoff Marine Museum Collection Acc. 86.233 and 91.85. HMM Library Rare Books Room (Box 1), Folder [no #]. 1873-01-18.)
① ② ③ ④ ⑤ ⑥

"[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.)
① ② ③ ④

"N/A"

Note: This list of archival documents contains in an unedited form any and all which mention #9p King Fisher [Kingfisher] even if just in a cursory way. Permission to digitize, transcribe and display is gratefully acknowledged.

• King Fisher (HMCo-made index card)
• King Fisher (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: 1872
E/P/S: P
No.: 009
Name: King Fisher
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.

"Built in 42 days (setup to launch; equivalent to 5048 lbs displacement/day)." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. January 16, 2024.)

"In the absence of better available data displacement was estimated by using the figure for Gross Register Tons (106) from the 1928 List of Merchant Vessels of the U.S. (Net Register Tons were reported as 72) and converting to lbs by dividing through 2000 (short tons). Note that this figure can only be a rough estimate because register tons as reported in Yacht Registers correlate only loosely with actual displacement figures." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. March 17, 2015.)

Note: Research notes contain information about a vessel that is often random and unedited but has been deemed useful for future research.