The Winter herring was a dangerous time…
1880
Everyone can understand that the value of herrings or fish in general very much depends on the expedition with which they can be sent to the market, hence the rush on all sides to overtake the first train. Carters, however, at least, so think the authorities, occasionally exceed direction, and the safety of life and limbs of the lieges, especially when an accident does occur, as it did the other day to a boy named Drummond, who had his foot run over near the Post Office. Thus on Friday last before, the East Anstruther Bailies, Alexander McRobie and David Parker, Carters Anstruther and David Scott, Carter, Cellardyke, were charged under the Lindsay Act with Furious Driving on the occasion of the accident referred to. They severely denied the charge, when three neighbour wives were called to prove the complaint. Accordingly to this testimony, the misfortune of the boy had happened, not through the fault or recklessness of the drivers, but through the shying of one of the horses, and altogether the proof was so confused and unsatisfactory, that the panels were dismissed with a reprimand from the bar.
James Brunton, fisherman, Cellardyke was charged with a breach of the peace, but on evidence being led, the averments of the complainers, George Elder and his father, went to show that the altercation was so much of a family quarrel, in which it was impossible to say who was worse, that the bailies dismissed the charge.
1881
A telegram was received in Anstruther on Monday morning to the effect that a vessel was in distress at Fifeness and calling for the lifeboat. Harbour Pilot Parker, the Coxswain in charge, had the boat at once in gear with a volunteer crew of Cellardyke fishermen, and so dragged by four horses began the journey eastwards. It was an arduous task with the lumbering wheels on the sodden highway, but on appeal being made to Mr Clark at Rennyhill, two horses only waited to be put in harness. The same response was given by Mr Eadie, Carncores, but Mr Fortune of Barnsmuir sent four horses and three men, and thus, with twelve horses in all the rescue party dashed in gallant style through Crail. The launch was made at Balcomie sands, when the lifeboat was pulled to the vessel – a large Norwegian brig – which , however by this time had been abandoned by her crew, and also boarded by some Crail Fishermen, who had ventured through the surf in a salmon coble. The object of those in the lifeboat was now to assist the strangers adrift in the longboat, and a search was consequently made in all directions, but without success. Meanwhile the steam tug ‘Yorkshire lass’, finding it impossible to make the Harbour at Arbroath, was induced to reconnoitre with the lifeboat in the hope of saving the ship, which was riding at anchor on the inner side of the Carr, but she was found in the interval to have struck the reef, and, with rudder gone, was fast sinking to the bottom. Tug and lifeboat then returned to the harbour about 5pm, but in about three hours afterwards the town rang with the glad news that the castaways had also found a safe landing at the pier. The brig is the Oliver of Dramen …..
1883
Advert in Shetland Times
The International Fisheries Exhibition, Edinburgh 1882
Gold medal for Deep Sea Herring Nets
Silver Medal and Money prize for Deep Sea Fishing Lines
Diploma for Excellence of Fishermen’s suits of Oilskins
The Above having Been awarded to – SHARP AND MURRAY, CELLARDYKE
They are now making stock to suit the trade with the very best material. Nets suitable for the Shetland Isles, mounted, barked and ready for sea; as well as great lines, mounted and barked in cane skulls or maunds, ready to bait. Barked Cotton in skeins for mending, in all sizes in fact every requisite required for the fishing Industry, supplied at the lowest possible prices.
1883
Last night the Cellardyke fishing boat, owned by George Watson Smith, which had only left for the fishing ground that afternoon, returned to Anstruther harbour and reported the loss of Thomas Pratt, one of the crew. They had been engaged shooting their nets, and unobserved, Pratt had fallen overboard, the first thing they noticed was his heels as he disappeared beneath the water. He never rose to the surface, and the crew returned to communicate the melancholy intelligence to his parents. Pratt was only 18 years of age.
1890
Yesterday afternoon the fishing boat Eclipse KY 2072, of Cellardyke, put into Arbroath and reported the loss of one of her crew, a young man named Andrew Keay (nephew of the Skipper, second son of Mr Andrew Keay living in John Street)). The Eclipse was engaged at the herring fishing about a mile East of the Carr Rock when she was overtaken by the gale. While hauling in the nets a huge wave struck the craft and carried Keay overboard. The poor fellow was seen floating for some time, but it was found impossible to render him assistance. On Arriving at Arbroath, the news of the unfortunate accident was telegraphed by the crew to the friends of the deceased, who belonged to Cellardyke, was 27 years of age and unmarried.
The Barbara Wood was towed by the Maggie Scott, of Cellardyke in the course of the evening tide into Anstruther. The close reef was torn to ribbons, so that she was drifting like a log at the mercy of the gale when Skipper Gardiner bore up to the rescue. Boat after boat arrived with the tackle, if at all, like tangled threads, so that the loss of gear is un paralled in the Forth.
1894
Football
Anstruther Rangers V Cellardyke Bluejackets
An eleven of the fishermen under this once familiar name gave battel to the Rangers on Saturday. The wind spoiled play, and the Rangers, playing with the wind, rattled through four goals. When their time came the Bluejackets compiled three goals ere the whistle blew.
1896
On Monday night a first class fishing boat built to the order of William Stewart & Sons Cellardyke was launched from the building yard of Mr James Miller, As the craft left the ways she was named Unity by a daughter of one of the owners. She is 62 feet long, a splendid model, and is to be fitted up with the newest principle, with steam engine for hauling the nets, and will be available for all branches of the fishing (Interesting that a week later the same launch is mentioned in another paper with the owners as Corstorphine, Cellardyke)
1898
The annual social of the employees of the Kirkcaldy Boot factory was held in Cellardyke Town hall on Tuesday Evening.
In Cellardyke Town hall on Saturday night Rev. Mr Turnbull St Monans, delivered a lecture, illustrated with limelight views on the fishing ports of Yarmouth and Lowestoft, to which the fishermen go every year. The attendance was good and the lecture heartily appreciated.
1902
Crail Union have Cellardyke Bluejackets as their guests in a Martin Cup Tie. The Union are the present holders and ousted the Bluejackets last season 3 -2 in the Semi-final, so that the latter will strive their utmost to turn the tables on this occasion. Mr Cummings of Leven is referee.
(report of the match below, it must have been a draw as a rematch followed in Waid park)
Cellardyke Bluejackets sprung a genuine surprise on Crail, a surprise only equal to that when the Union beat the Rangers in the final last year. The Match was played at Crail before an excited crowd, but it was not a game to criticise.
Starting at first with a firm grip on the players the referee gradually became a secondary figure, and the exhibition was one of a rough and tumble nature.
The Armitage cup defeat by kettle made Crail anxious which accounted for the Union sticking to their choice of ground. The meant to give away no advantages.
Cellardyke’s eleven was a ‘dark horse’ A protest was lodged against one of the Blues.