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Fife Herald, 20 Feb 1884
The Enterprise of our Fishermen – No more eloquent illustration can be adduced of the onward spirit of the fishers of Fife that the notable activity in the boatbuilding yards of the Coast. Our townsman Councillor Jarvis, has, in particular, just added another dashing sea clipper to the Cellardyke Fleet in the ‘Mayflower,’ built to the order of that worthy veteran and well known office bearer in the Parish Church, Mr Alexander Watson. Like her consorts of late she is fully fifty six feet in length; but we specially notice her fine well developed lines, bespeaking, as every old sailor knows, a safe and trusty sea craft in the rising gale. There is no better example, indeed, of what a first class fishing craft ought to be, in view of the ever recurring hazards of the stormy sea; but notably in those days, when, as in the case of the ‘Mayflower’ sail after sail will be hoisted for Kinsale, and a little later for the Shetland isles..
Pic taken in 1900 Lto R John Watson (Skipper’s brother), Thomas Lowrie, James Deas and son,, Skipper William Watson (Smith) , David Dick, James Dick, James Dewar. Skipper Watson was the son of Adam Watson (Brown) and should not be confused with his uncle William Watson (Smith) of John Street, nor with William Watson (Smith) of the brothers, son of Adam Watson (Ainslie) of the Garland.
1893
The Cellardyke boats which have been fishing at the northern ports returned home mostly on Friday and Saturday. The season has been a good one, the average over the 160 boats being estimated ab £130. The “king-fisher,” Skipper Adam Reid, of the Reliance, has £ 530, and the lowest £ 30. The great majority have -close on £ 180 to £200, although there are a few with £300 to their credit. Generally, the boats which were at Peterhead were the best fished. Crews are now being made up for the south fishing at Yarmouth and Lowestoft, while a few are to proceed to the Islay fishing.
1894
The Cellardyke boats have all returned home from the North the highest being the Reliance with £420
1895
Fraserburgh
By Thursday night the Fife men were at work, and, meeting with more remuneration, considerably increased their totals for the season. On Saturday friends could be met who had grossed £150 and many with £100. The week opened auspiciously—a general fishing and many boats over the average. The Docile had 35 crans at 19s, the Fifeshire 20, and so on. ……………The prince of the East Fife boats, would again seem to the Reliance, some being coupled with Skipper Reid’s name. He has thus a fine lead in the race, many of his neighbours having it may be said, hardly made a start yet. They have fought hard too, but with the most wretched of success.
Eastern Evening News – Wednesday 28 November 1900
Satisfied Scotties-The Crews of the Scotch fishing-boats that have returned home express themselves as well satisfied with the results of their East Coast herring voyage. The highest earnings by the boats from the Fife meet were taken by the Vanguard of Cellardyke, which had over £600. The Burghead boats average £460, and several have between £600 and £700. The Arbroath crews also report that they have done well at Yarmouth.
Replaced By the Steam Drifter Vanguard III in 1904 owned by Martin Gardner.
Aberdeen Evening Express – Saturday 16 August 1884 ( NB this article names the boat as Nowdrop by Mistake it is the Conqueror)
Last night, about eleven o’clock an accident occurred at Point Law, Aberdeen, which resulted in the death by drowning of a young man engaged in the herring fishing at the port. The unfortunate fisherman, who was named John Muir, and was a native of Cellardyke Fifeshire, had been standing the deck of a boat at the time mentioned, conversing with some men on the quay, and, while the act of stepping to another boat slipped and fell into the water. The splash was heard by those on shore, but, it being very dark at the time, Muir could not be seen. Several attempts, however, were made to save him, throwing ropes and buoys into the water at the spot where he was supposed to have come down. Unfortunately, none of these means of rescue could be taken advantage of by Muir, whose body was not recovered till a considerable time afterwards, when life was found to be extinct. The drowned man, who was 26 years of age, was one the crew the Snowdrop, Ky 1568, and was unmarried.. It is believed that the heavy sea boots which he wore had the effect of keeping him from making much effort to save himself. The corpse was taken to the Cunnigarhill Deadhouse this morning.
19th August
The body of John Muir, the unfortunate fisherman who lost his life there on Friday night was conveyed yesterday by train to his native place Cellardyke, Fifeshire The cortege that followed the coffin to the railway station consisted of upwards of 100 Fishermen.
1874
As the deep sea going boat the ‘Sovereign’ of Cellardyke, Skipper John Barclay was out on the fishing cruise last week the crew observed a foreign built skiff adrift some 125 miles seaward of the Isle of May. There was a ‘ride-tow’ that is a small line which, with a sufficiently heavy stone is used as an anchor at the hand line fishing, found on board, from which the boat appears to have been so employed on the Lothian shore till she had drifted to sea during the gale. Skipper Barclay brought the boat, which was unnamed and unmarked into Anstruther harbour, where she now lies in charge of Mr Keay, the Deputy Receiver of Wrecks.
1882
The fleet this season includes the finest and largest boats ever fitted out from the East of Fife. Amongst these being notably the dashing clipper Ruby, which was launched the other day Councillor Jarvis to the crier of the old Cellardyke skipper, Mr David Wilson. For the last thirty years boat-building has been carried on with on greater enterprise on the East coast than at the Brae of Anstruther; but the Ruby is beyond question the queen of the fleet. She is longer by a foot than any other built here, her dimensions being —length, 55; beam, 18; and depth of hold, 7 ½ feet; but, in addition to this, she also challenges attention by the fineness and symmetry of her mould.
KY2072 Eclipse at Shields
12th March 1890 – LOSS OF A FISHERMAN AT SEA The Kirkcaldy fishing boat No. 2072 John Boyter skipper, took shelter in Arbroath harbour yesterday afternoon, and reported that at three o’clock on the morning, when near the North Carr Lightship, the boat was struck by a heavy sea, and, Andrew Keay one of the crew, was washed overboard. An oar was thrown to him, but he failed to catch it and was drowned. He was twenty-seven years of age, unmarried, and resided in Cellardyke with his parents.
