Volume Nine - Pre-Victorian to the present day - even more aspects - The Board of Trade, Mercantile Marine Offices at Penarth Dock . . .

Before May, 1876, the vessels frequenting Penarth had to obtain their crews from Cardiff. Since then the main item of business has been as follows : - Number of sailors engaged and discharged in 1876, 1,900 ; 1877, 2,572 ; 1878, 4,268 ; 1879, 5,909 ; 1880, 11,073. The increase this year for the nine months ended 30th September amounts to 2,203 men, or 34 per cent. over the same period of 1880.' - Cardiff Times [019] [361] 29th October 1881.

• 1882 - Slater's Trade Directory - It is not until the 1882 edition of the Slater's Trade Directory [160] that I am able find a specific entry relating to the Mercantile Marine Board Office at Penarth Dock. In that year the Penarth Dockmaster, Mr. Walter M. Pengelley, is listed as the contact at the Mercantile Marine Office ; having presumably been appointed by the Board of Trade to oversee operations probably in addition to his duties as dockmaster. However, the following newspaper articles seem to contradict this appointment.

• April 1882 - Penarth Shipping Office - To the Editor - 'Sir, - At the close of your interesting account of Penarth in to-day's paper you say that vessels cannot be cleared at Penarth Shipping Office. Allow me to say that the statement is incorrect. All the business connected with the shipment and discharge of crews can be done at Penarth Office just as fully as at Cardiff. - I am, &c. - W. Turner, Board of Trade, Mercantile Marine Office, Cardiff, April 18.' - South Wales Daily News [325] [361] 19th April 1882.

• May 1882 - Mercantile Marine Appointments - 'The following staff appointments and changes have been ordered by the Board of Trade : -

Mr Turner, superintendent at Cardiff, to be chief superintendent over three offices at Cardiff, Newport, and Penarth ;

Mr J. Evans to be first-class inspector and superintendent of out-door staffs at Cardiff, Newport, and Penarth ;

Mr W. M. Davies to be clerk at Penarth ;

Mr D. L. Thomas third-class constable at Penarth.' - Cardiff Times [019] [361] 20th May 1882.