By Jean F. Collins King Lewisporte Newfoundland
written in April 1993

If you were born on Indian Islands, Stag Harbour, Seldom Come By, Fogo or any small outport along the northeast coast of Newfoundland in the latter part of the 1800’s and as late as the 1930’s then I’m sure you recognize this little 110 ton ship.  It’s the Acme and you will also remember her veteran skipper Allan Collins of Indian Islands who brought her out of St. John’s in the year 1927 after his second schooner, the Pacquett was wrecked and lost at Seal Cove near Fogo.

Around the middle of May each year Skipper Al, as he was called, would engage his crew from the summer which would involve around 13 men.  One year one of his crew was his 6 year old son Eric.  After a few weeks all would be ready, with her sails hoisted, flag in the rigging and the Miss England at her side to help her along.  The Acme would be off to the Labrador summer fishery.  Everyone watched as she disappeared around shoal point and listened for the last thud of the little engine that faded with each mile.

All is fairly quiet during the summer.  The men are fishing in their smaller boats and soon it’s approaching the latter part of August and all eyes are focused on Shoal Point for the first glimpse of the Acme as she should be arriving any day now.

Then on some early morning, mid afternoon, after dusk or whenever, there she would appear.  An elegant and welcome sight to everyone and the same flags that waived her goodbye a few weeks ago were being raised by uncle Nick and uncle Bill Perry to say , welcome back home.

The acme was engaged in more than the fishery.  The skipper would immediately make inquiries for other work for the Acme.  One of his adventures began in November 1936 when he with his family and 3 other families of Indian islands, totalling 21 in all, boarded the Acme and set sail for the Great Cat Arm in the White Bay.  Logs were cut during the winter to supply the sawmill they set up in the Fall.  In Spring 1937 the Acme was loaded with lumber and pip props and brought to Lewisporte, some of which was shipped inland to be used in the mines in Buchans and some to Chester Dawe Ltd.  in Bay Roberts for various uses.

Out of the 21 people who made the voyage on the Acme, 7 are deceased, 10 are living in Lewisporte which includes 88 years old Mrs. Susie Hoddinott, and her son Cecil , Messrs. Harold, Howard and Ralph Day and 3 daughters of the late skipperMrs. Ralph Day and Mrs. Cecil Hoddinott and Mrs. Roland King and his 2 sons, Eric and Lewellyn Collins.  Living at Noggin Cove are Mr and Mrs Henry Sheppard and their daughter Glenda who was 2 years old at the time and Mr. Sturdee Collins living in St. John’s.

A few years later the Acme was skippered by the late Albert Penney, a life long friend and his second hand for many years.  He too spent his last years at Lewisporte and in the Fall of 1942 gale force winds and heavy seas caused the Acme to burst from her moorings and she drifted on the rocks of a little island in Indian Islands Tickle and there the relics of her frameworks lie on the beach, while those of the Miss England, the little boat that helped her through the calm water so many times are lying on the beach of Sceviours Island near Lewisporte.