Animals Onboard

By Kirsty Gilchrist

Different animals could be found onboard ships throughout history. This has often been documented in photographs, and two students on work experience at the Scottish Maritime Museum have helped to research the subject.

The first kind of animal that could be found onboard a ship is a beloved pet. A cat or dog could provide companionship and have the added benefit of acting as pest control for the vessel. Disease spreading while at sea could be a disaster for crew and passengers, so a cat or dog onboard would be a welcomed sight.

The Scottish Maritime Museum collection includes several photographs of the Paterson family on their yacht with the family dog Scottie.

2019-039(206) The Paterson family onboard their yacht ‘Zaida’ in 1936 with their dog Scottie

A lot of sailors believed that if they looked after a ship’s cat, they would have good luck for the rest of the journey. Cat’s have a natural ability to sense changes in the atmosphere, so some sailors believed they had magical powers that could change the weather.

2007-367 Able Seaman Hector Walker RNVR on board HMS ‘Patroclus’ holding a black cat with white paws

As well as pets, many ships would also have working animals travelling with the crew. For instance, there are a lot of photographs in the museum’s collection featuring working dogs, especially onboard the ships ‘Bayeskimo’ and ‘Baychimo’. These ships would travel from Ayrshire to the Arctic, transporting cargo for the Hudson Bay Company who were North American fur traders.

2025-003(007)(lxi) A crewmember petting a dog onboard ‘Bayeskimo’ or ‘Baychimo’ c. 1930

2025-003(007)(lxv) A dog from ‘Bayeskimo’ or ‘Baychimo’. Crew members loading or unloading ship cargo c. 1930

Closer to home, river ferries like the Lampits “float” in Pittinain, South Lanarkshire, would regularly be used to transport people, carts and livestock over the River Clyde in the 1800s. The vessel was operated by a ferryman or ferrywoman who lived in the cottage on the north side of the river that was purpose built for their accommodation.

2010-028(002) The Lampits ferry crossing the River Clyde with a cargo of sheep. The ferryman, Adam Cullen, is at the controls of the vessel (c. 1890s)

2010-028(003) A ferrywoman operating the Lampits ferry, crossing the River Clyde at Pettinain (c. 1890s)

This method saved a lot of time as travellers didn’t have to go to another village to find an existing bridge to cross. However, the journey across the river could be upsetting for the animals onboard, with horses, cows and sheep losing their footing on the small pontoon platform and falling overboard when startled.

Thank you to Kristopher and Daisy from Greenwood Academy for compiling research for this blog post during work experience at the museum.

Sources:

https://www.mercurymarine.com/us/en/lifestyle/dockline/5-common-nautical-superstitions

https://clydesdalesheritage.org.uk/article/the-lampits-float/