A TRAWLER DISAPPEARS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22883, 18 May 1936, Page 9

A TRAWLER DISAPPEARS

DECLARED TO BE A PIRATE LONDON, May 15. Lloyd’s agents throughout the world have been instructed to watch for the North Sea trawler Girl Pat, which the Admiralty declares is a pirate, if it is proved that the skipper and crew of four seized her, and it will then the duty of every ship flying the British flag to assist in apprehending her. The trawler is equipped with the latest Diesel engines. She left Dover on April 4, and put in at Corcubion (Spain) on April 12. She left nine days later, after extensive repairs, not stating her destination. The owner, the Marstand Fish in" Company, notified the underwriters on April 27 that it regarded the ship as a total loss. The company explained that it engaged the skipper a few months ago, and he picked his own crew, with the exception of the engineer, whom he left at Dover. The case has recalled the disappearance of the Ferret in the 1880’s, which was discovered at Melbourne owing to the curiosity of a coastguard, who found no vessel bearing the name under which it was disguised. NO TRACE OF VESSEL LONDON, May IG. (Received May 17, at 9 p.m.) Extensive inquiries show no trace of the trawler Girl Pat. The owners state that they have come to the conclusion that the master, George Black Osborne, and the crew have made off with the vessel. Mrs Osborne states that her husband's brother owns motor fishing boats in New Zealand and she suggests that her husband might be going to New Zealand. “ I am sick with worry about him,” she said.