RCN Fishermen's Reserve Vessels

compiled by John M. MacFarlane 2012 (Updated in 2019 with additional data from Bryon Taylor)

The Accepted List of Vessels of the RCN Fishermen’s Reserve

There is no ‘official’ list of vessels that comprised the RCN Fishermen’s Reserve. This is the list of vessels generally considered to be part of that organization. It is based on research of official records over many years. (Click on the individual links to see the vessel histories.)

• HMCS Allaverdy – ON 171799
• HMCS B.C. Lady – ON 171799
• HMCS Barkley Sound – ON 172543
• HMCS Billow – ON 171790
• HMCS Bluenose – ON (nk)
• HMCS Camenita – ON 154340
• HMCS Cancolim – ON 154929
• HMCS Canfisco – ON 152801
• HMCS Cape Beale – ON 152726
• HMCS Capella I – ON 155156
• HMCS Chamiss Bay – ON 154926
• HMCS Chatham S. – ON 138606
• HMCS Comber – ON 155102
• HMCS Crest – ON 154437
• HMCS C.S.C. No. 2 – ON 155102
• HMCS Dalehurst – ON 172338
• HMCS Departure Bay – ON 153296
• HMCS Early Field – ON 153080
• HMCS Ehkoli – ON 313121
• HMCS Fifer – ON 171815
• HMCS Flores – ON 172318
• HMCS Foam – ON 156618
• HMCS Howe Sound I – ON 173572
• HMCS Joan W. II – ON 170422
• HMCS Johanna – ON 150679
• HMCS Kuitan – ON 178828
• HMCS Leelo – ON (nk)
• HMCS Loyal I – ON 156648
• HMCS Loyal II – ON 156618
• HMCS Marauder – ON 156633
• HMCS Margaret No. 1 – ON 150859
• HMCS Merry Chase – ON 155235
• HMCS Mitchell Bay – ON 170409
• HMCS Moolock – ON 174070
• HMCS Moresby III – ON 153050
• HMCS Nenamook – ON (nk)
• HMCS Ripple – ON 156926
• HMCS San Tomas – ON 170951
• HMCS Santa Maria I – ON 158915
• HMCS Seiner – ON 152892
• HMCS Signal – ON 153310
• HMCS Smith Sound – ON 172530
• HMCS Spray – ON 171798
• HMCS Springtime V – ON 172350
• HMCS Surf – ON 171791
• HMCS Takla – ON 154654
• HMCS Talapus – ON 177553
• HMCS Tordo – ON 172556
• HMCS Valdes – ON 154660
• HMCS Vanisle – ON 158914
• HMCS Venceder – ON 135254
• HMCS West Coast – ON 156591
• HMCS Western Maid – ON 158916

Fishermen’s Reserve Vessels (Pre–war Mobilized in 1939)

(Author’s Note): These vessels were members of the pre–war Fishermen’s Reserve fleet mobilized for wartime service but returned to civilian status before they were formally chartered by the Royal Canadian Navy.

• Algie – ON 153350
• Alrie – ON (nk)
• Cape Henry – ON 153162
• Chief Seegay – ON 155171
• Chief Tapeet – ON 156811
• Koprino – ON 153045
• Pine Lake – ON (nk)
• Pine Leaf – ON NUMBER
• W.R. Lord – ON 134211

Fishermen’s Reserve Vessels (Pre–war Not Mobilized)

(Author’s Note): These vessels were members of the pre–war Fishermen’s Reserve fleet but were not mobilized for wartime service.

• Anthony J. – ON 155260
• Arctic I – ON 126513
• Argent – ON 153404
• Billmor – ON 154670
• Cape Mudge – ON 153163
• Charmine C. – ON 154671
• Embla – ON 155179
• Ermelina – ON 170941
• Exilda – ON 154569
• F.H. Phippen – ON 130292
• Finella – ON 156584
• Fir Leaf – ON 141308
• Gospak – 153408
• Helen II – ON 153308
• Joan F. – ON 170783
• Manhattan No. 1 – ON 152733
• Mary W. – ON 152823
• Mermaid I – ON 170788
• Mina H. – ON 153031
• Morris H. – ON 153151
• Oslo – ON 153307
• Pair of Jacks – ON 141273
• Percy W – ON 154915
• Princeton No. 1 – ON 154667
• Relief – ON 155155
• Seamaid – ON 150855
• Teeny Milly – ON 155188
• Tramp – ON 141271
• Vera Beatrice – ON 155157
• Viner – ON 130433
• Western Cruiser – ON 131147
• Western Fisher – ON 153398
• Western Flyer – ON 157081
• White Wave – ON 154579
• Yankee Boy – ON 130496

Vessels Sometimes Incorrectly Reported as Fishermen’s Reserve Vessels (Harbour Craft Crewed by Fisheries Reserve Personnel)

(Author’s Note): The following vessels have been reported, on a speculative basis, by some writers, as being part of the Fishermen’s Reserve. The speculation on their inclusion in the list is sometimes based on the fact that they were manned by Fishermen’s Reserve personnel or if the vessel carried a pendant number with the Fisheries Pendant superior to the number. Another line of thought is that they were operated prior to the Second World War by members of the RCNR Fishermen’s Reserve Section. They may also have operated as tenders to naval bases or as auxiliary vessels. (Readers should note that there has been a lot of inaccurate or misleading speculation on this branch of the Navy which is frequently repeated by casual writers. It is poorly documented in the public sector and are advised not to propagate these unproven reports.)

• Adriatic Star – ON 170417
• Andamara – ON 170937
• HMCS Combat – ON 172518
• Emoh – ON 130845
• Gibson – ON 150674
• Gradac – ON 138488
• Haley M – ON 158281
• Jessie Island No. 9 – ON 156660
• Lady Beth – ON 173747
• Lady Joan II – ON 173748
• Lennard Island – ON 156615
• HMCS Lil II – ON (nk)
• Margalice – ON 134218
• Mayas – ON (nk)
• HMCS Meander – ON 158313
• HMCS Moresby No. 2 – ON 150875
• Nootka Sound – ON 172549
• Palander – ON 155158
• Papoose – ON 173375
• Queen Bee – ON (nk)
• Sakura – ON 134114
• Salida – ON 157209
• Saltpetre – ON 156629
• Sea Pride II – ON 172296
• Sea Ranger – ON 158918
• HMCS Snow Prince – ON 170413
• HMCS Stanpoint – ON 170392
• Sunrise Maid – ON 154373
• Talamaso – ON 153174
• Tau Tog – ON 173736
• Uliptic – ON 150645
• Universe – ON 173502
• Western Monarch – ON 170407
• Y.M.N.W. 2650 – ON (nk)
• York Home – ON 172312
• Z. Brothers – ON 155202
• Zenardi – ON 152725

More Vessels Which May Have Been Part of the RCN Fishermen’s Reserve

• Barmar – ON 170399
• Kuroshio – ON 171790 (This vessel served as HMCS Billow)
• Glendale V – ON 172338
• Moresby No. 3 – ON 153050
• Sea Flash – ON 190657
• Skidegate – ON 154549

For More Details on These Vessels

The stories of these vessels and more than 54,000 others are outlined in the search-able Vessels Database on this website. Search by name to find out about them. Searchable Vessels Database

To quote from this article please cite:

Compiled by John M. MacFarlane 2012 (Updated in 2019 with additional data from Bryon Taylor) Vessels of the Royal Canadian Navy Fishermen’s Reserve. Nauticapedia.ca 2012. https://nauticapedia.nauticapedia.info/articles.php?article=81