1805
The Duck Club of Cupar have subscribed five guineas to the wives and families of the men who were unfortunately lost off Cellardyke; and example worthy of Imitation. (The boat had been lost in a squall at the end of June beginning of July leaving 3 widows and 13 children destitute)
1827
On Thursday week a fishing boat returning from Leith to Cellardyke struck the rocks off St Monans and immediately sunk. The Crew about ten in number, were in the water nearly an hour; and, had it not been for some of their neighbour fishermen who picked them up, they must have all perished. The goods consisting of biscuit, tea and sugar &c., which they were to take to Caithness, were all lost. The boat is a total wreck.
1829
On Saturday Morning last a Cellardyke boat caught, with only a net or two, eight dozen of fine herrings near the Island of May, and from the quantity of herring whales ( as the fishermen call them) that are presently on the coast, there is little doubt but there are also plenty of herrings. It is a matter of regret that our respectable fish-curers do not engage a number of the boats to remain here instead of going to the North, as it is quite notorious that the fishing here has for these some years been lost for want of timely looking after.
1837 ( although happening earlier in the month this tragedy is still being reported UK wide, this article from the Waterford Mail, the court case has been mentioned in previous postings)
We have this week to record one of the most distressing and melancholy accidents which has occurred on the North side of the Tweed for many years past. On Saturday afternoon, the herring boat Johns of Cellardyke, John Sutherland, Skipper, was wrecked whilst entering the little haven on the east side of the Isle of May, when no fewer than twenty one individuals met a watery grave. The circumstances as given to us by our correspondent at Dunbar, who was on the spot shortly after the sad accident happened, are as follows;- it is customary at this season of the tyear and before the boats leave the various towns on the East coast of Fife, for the herring fishery in the north, to visit the Isle of May on a pleasure excursion. On the morning in question, a party, to the amount of between seventy and eighty, consisting of men women and children, embarked in the Johns, and having coasted round the west and south side of the Island, in attempting to take the little harbour for the purpose of landing, the boat from the heaviness of the swell, and the narrowness of the passage, was thrown upon a rock, and the waves receding, she fell over and went down. The scene which took place baffles description, and the only matter of astonishment is, how so many were saved, when it is recollected that the majority were females and children.
The little island lying hitherto in peace under a bright July sun, and garnished with all the blooming beauty of summer, and its gay concomitants of straggling pleasure parties was converted into a scene of weeping and bereavement; every tender tie was torn asunder – the eye of the parent which but a moment before beamed with affection, the smiling countenance of the youthful pledge of mutual love and endearment were sealed in death; while the little hands that were stretched in supplication to their natural protector folded their nerveless grasp below the weltering surge.
The young and the aged, the beautiful and the first born, were engulfed in one common tomb – numbers were who were nearly exhausted, were carried to the apartments of the light keeper, where by the attention and care of the inmates, which deserves the highest commendation, they all recovered. The survivors, with the corpses found up to the time our informant left, were conveyed in other boats to Cellardyke, where another sense of distress would take place – over which humanity must drop a tear.
1841
To be sold by public roup within the town hall of Cellardyke
That Large tenement of three storeys ,situated upon the Braeheads of Cellardyke, and formerly a malt steading, having a malt barn upon the ground floor, and two excellent granaries above, each about 72ft long within the walls, together with the large yard behind the same and likewise the kiln presently used as a barn and hayloft. As also that unfinished dwelling house of two storeys on the north end of the property and stable thereto attached.
These premises are conveniently situated and admirably adapted for a fish curer. The Malt barn and granaries could at once be used as a cooperage and cellar for storing salt, and the kiln as a smoking house, while the curing yard would be of great extent, and would afford ample room for sheds and other necessary erections. The dwelling house is substantially built and covered with blue slates and could be finished at comparatively little expense.
There is easy access to the property with carts both on the south and north. There is also plenty of water on the premises.
Further particulars from Archibald Williamson, ship-owner, Anstruther Wester the proprietor or to Matthew Forster Connoly and John smith Writers in Anstruther.
1844
On Wednesday night last week the ‘Benledi’ steamer on her way from Dundee to Granton ran down a fishing yawl, off Cellardyke harbour. The yawl was lying at anchor and three boys were fishing in it, who stood up and cried to those on board the steamer when they saw that she was coming right on them. No notice was taken, however, and the steamer struck the boat cutting her right through. One of the boys got up on the paddles, and the other two were picked up by the steamers boat. One of them is a good deal bruised, having been struck by the paddles he supposes. It is very fortunate that nothing more serious occurred.
1849
We have now lying before us the ‘Second report of the Edinburgh section of the Central board for the relief of destitution in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland 1849’ a volume of 190 pages. 173 of which are swallowed up in dry statistical and almost unintelligible epistolary appendices.. the report itself just occupies 9 pages and makes the startling announcement that’ the destitution this year greatly exceeds that of last year!’…………………………….
Before we proceed to remark on some notable feature in the appendix, we cannot pass over the extravagant allowances to the Fife fishermen of which will be best seen from the following extract;
The committee engaged three boats crews from Cellardyke and two from St Monance, amounting in all to forty men whom they sent in March to the west coast. They were the most skilful and persevering fishermen whom the committee could find on the coast of Fife, and their boats were of the best description of those adapted to the deep sea fishing and thoroughly found in every respect. Two of these crews were sent to Badachro, two to the north coast of Skye and the fifth to the Island of Soa, in the south of Skye for the purpose of fishing off the adjacent banks. The Committee were aware that it would be necessary in the first instance, to tempt these men to go to an unknown and untried ground, with very high terms, and that they could not expect to be repaid by the produce of the fishing; ……………… The Glasgow Committee had been obliged to offer the very high terms of 30s per week to each man, and the half of the fish caught, to induce the East Coast fishermen to go in the preceding year, and the Committee authorised the person they employed to contract with the fishermen if they could not be induced to enter into the arrangement upon more moderate terms. Eventually, the fishermen were engaged upon the terms of 30s per week and half the fish to the Cellardyke fishermen, and 26s per week and half the fish to the St Monans Fishermen… the contract was limited to 3 months from march til the end of June.. the weather has been so stormy as greatly to retard their fishing and give but a few days, the men appear satisfied with the result,, The Committee expect them to have to be induced to return for the more favourable fishing season, while they do not propose to offer more than a moderate bonus, if necessary to persuade them..
‘Ay the men appear satisfied with the result… and so they well may; with their handsome salaries they need not care if they never cast a line or dip a net in the sea…