Name/Title
Bessie L. Anderson | Half ModelDescription
Bessie L. Anderson
Built, Eastport, Maine
Gross tonnage: 18
Net tonnage: 13
Length: 42 feet, 2 inches
Breadth: 15 feet, 5 inches
Depth: 6 feet, 9 Ines
Samuel Vanner, builder
Half model is 18" in length.
On March 14, 2023 the donor of the half model, Bob Quayle, said by telephone that the half model had been given to his father by John Craig of Eastport, Maine.
*Eastport Sentinel, May 11, 1927, p. 1:
"Eastport To Alaska Cruise Is Started
The Bessie L. Anderson, Crack Sardine Carrier, Off For Halibut Grounds at Ketchikan
Perhaps the longest cruise ever attempted in a boat built for the sardine carrying trade was started here Friday when Captain R.W. Medder, with two younger Eastporters, William Kierstead and Arthur Holland as companions, set sail for the halibut fishing grounds off Alaska in the fishing schooner Bessie L. Anderson.
The Anderson is a small craft for such a trip, being of only 13 tons burden, but she is staunch and seaworthy. She was built in 1901 by the late Samuel Vanner for the late Capt. Somerville Anderson. By him she was sold to the Booth Fisheries Company, and it was from this concern that the present owner bought her a year or two ago. She is equipped with sails and an auxiliary engine of 24 horsepower. The latter will be used only when weather conditions require it.
Capt. Medder is a native of Liverpool. He later made his home in Oakland, Calif., but has been on the Atlantic coast for a season or two. He took the Anderson to the Gulf after purchasing her and engaged in the red snapper fishery. He had unsatisfactory luck there and returned here, to haul his craft out for the winter at Head Harbor.
After tuning her up, he started with her Friday for New York. From there he will steer his course for San Juan, Porto Rico, and so on to the Canal. After passing into the Pacific, he will run up the coast to San Francisco. After a week or two here to visit relatives at Oakland and to fit out, he will sail for Ketchikan, Alaska. When he reaches there, he will have sailed about 7,000 miles, but he expects to complete the journey in a little more than two months.
Not only because two local boys are with him, but because his long voyage is probably unique so far as a vessel of the. Anderson’s size is concerned, his progress will be watched with deep interest here."
*Email note from Edward French, editor and publisher of The Quoddy Tides newspaper of Eastport, Maine dated March 29, 2023:
Hugh,
Ernie Burgess, an old-time fisherman from Chebeague Island, believes the half-model pictured in the last issue is probably a knockabout sloop instead of a schooner, particularly if it didn't have a bowsprit. Just passing that along.
Edward