The FMC data sheets are more detailed in layout than the GJCC, Tugs and the Cargo Carrying Steamers data sheets. All the known history in the latter three sections is compressed into the initial Steamer or Motor History sections. Take a look at the data sheet – all will become clear!

The colour of the boat name indicates the construction i.e. Steel, Wood or Composite

Post-FMC History

The abbreviations used in the Sources column are listed below. Any others encountered are probably in the Sightings list

Sightings

This is a list of all the occasions when the craft was recorded. In the main these came from the Journals of the Canal Inspector surviving in various Record Offices and Archives. Each entry is probably self-explanatory with the exception of the following:
The column headed Crew contains three figures: 213 or 11- or even –35. These respectively would indicate that the persons on board (including the Captain) were 2 men, 1 woman and 3 children or 1 man, 1 woman, no children or no men, 3 women and 5 children.
In some cases, the sex and age of the children was recorded and this is shown in the Notes column as b5, g7 (boy aged 5, girl aged 7). Occasionally, babies are shown as b9m (boy 9 months) or g1w (girl 1 week).
The complaint notes issued by the Sanitary Inspector are sometimes recorded in an abbreviated style which is mostly decodable but one or two have beaten me. Solutions welcome! An example of an entry might be in the form “Nott 69 cert non pro. Cab lks. Lttg oblit. Ptg req” which would translate as “Nottingham (the issuing authority) 69 (the complaint number) Certificate (registration document) not produced. Cabin leaks. Lettering obliterated. Painting required.” The boat owners are required to comply with this note and often you will find the boat is docked soon after the note is issued. The owner has to notify the authority after the repairs are done and this compliance is sometimes noted as “reb” (rebated) with a date.
The abbreviations used in the sightings are expanded below:

Documents on file

A list of all the copy documents I have on file. “pc” = photocopy; “ts” = transcript

Photographs

The colour coding indicates Steamer Photograph taken at Buckby or Steamer photograph taken elsewhere or Photograph taken after conversion. The column with “pc” or “print” means I have a photocopy or a print on file

Abbreviations are included in the “Post-FMC History” list

SIGHTINGS ABBREVIATIONS

POST-FMC and PHOTOGRAPHS ABBREVIATIONS