Records of Aberdeen Steam Fishing Vessels Owners' Association Ltd

This material is held atAberdeen City and Aberdeenshire Archives (Aberdeen City)

Scope and Content

1. Minute Books

2. Corporate Records.

3. Reports and accounts

4. Letters

5. Lists of Aberdeen Fishing Fleet

6. Reports

7. Scottish Trawlers' Federation Minute Books

8. Trawlermen Registration Scheme

Administrative / Biographical History

The Aberdeen Steam Fishing Vessels Owners' Association Ltd (ASFVOA) was formed in 1902, when it was registered as a joint stock company. Its object was “to amalgamate or federate for mutual protection owners and managers of fishing vessels and others interested in the fishing and shipping industries”. They employed a Fish Porters Superintendent, negotiated rates of pay for fishermen and fish porters and supported the work of the Aberdeen Steam Fishers' Provident Society (see DD3223). It was known locally as the Trawler Owners. Members of the Association included the leading figures of the local fishing industry, including representatives of the Irvin, Craig, Wood and Lewis families.

They removed the “Steam” from their name in 1956.

The company went into liquidation in Oct 1991 (there were only two members remained at that point: the Don Fishing Company and George Craig and Sons).

Access Information

Restricted

Open for consultation at Old Aberdeen House, open Mon-Wed 9:30-12:30 and 13:30-16:30. It is advisable to make an appointment. Access is restricted to the records of the Trawlermen Registration Scheme in line with the Data Protection Act.

Other Finding Aids

Please see the Aberdeen City & Aberdeenshire Archives catalogue at https://archives.aberdeencity.gov.uk/CalmView/

Archivist's Note

Catalogued in 2023 by Katy Kavanagh, using data from the Museums' TMS database.

Custodial History

Originally deposited with Aberdeen Art Gallery and Museums by Aberdeen Fish Producers Association in 2003 as gift. They were then catalogued with the reference number ABDMS045651. AAGM references are given in the Alt Ref No. field.

In 2022 the Archives received (from the Aberdeen Fishermen's' Mission) records of the Aberdeen Steam Fishers' Provident Society (DD3223), which included service cards for a trawlermen registration scheme managed by the Aberdeen (Steam) Fishing Vessel Owners Association, and the AAGM Acquisition and Disposal Panel authorised the transfer of the rest of the Association's records to the City Archives.

Accruals

The Aberdeen University Special Collections Centre have 2 further boxes of material relating to the Association.