1870
Presentation – The Rev William Smith, who has for several years past officiated as assistant to the Rev. George Dickson, the venerable minister of Kilrenny, having resigned his appointment, the parishioners, to express their high appreciation of his amiable character and professional acceptance, have subscribed a purse of nearly 50 sovereigns, which is to be presented at a public meeting to be held in the infant school of Cellardyke on Saturday evening. Mr Smith preached his farewell sermon in the parish church on Sabbath afternoon when many of his hearers were affected to tears.
The recent unproductive herring fishings have naturally had a ruinous effect upon those branches of trade more immediately connected with it. This of course is especially the case with boat-building, which at present contrasts very poorly with what it was several years ago. Only three new boats- one in Anstruther and two by John M. Robertson, St Monance are in the mean time in the hands of East of Fife builders; but we hear that Mr. Alexander Cunningham of Cellardyke, who has so successfully introduced the full decking of boats is on the eve of contracting for one. The trade in Anstruther is being carried on with much spirit by Mr. Jarvis, whose boats have graceful lines and splendid sea qualities for which Mr. Pottinger’s models are so highly esteemed by our Cellardyke fishermen, and their superiority to this effect has secured for them a ready sale. The keen competition which in the meantime exists amongst out carpenters is leading, it is said to contracts on the lowest margin of profits. Two boats – one 42ft the other 43feet long last contracted for at St Monance- are at the price of £105 and £110 respectively while the recent sale at Anstruther of a boat of a similar class was for the sum of £114.
1871
Severe and threatening weather has again retarded the herring fishing, which is the more to be regretted as there was reason to believe that a large shoal had gathered on the coast…. The Cellardyke crews up to Saturday, were mainly at the haddock fishing, but on that morning from thirty five to forty landed a total of 120 crans. This success would have followed with a general trial on Monday, but the stormy state of the weather interfered, and only 60 boats went to sea, which landed on Tuesday 160 crans, at the current prices of £2 per cran. In the course of the day the storm signal was displayed and no boats went to sea.
Model Fishing boats
About five years ago, an interesting series of experiments were made by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, in order to improve at once the safety and utility of fishing boats. For this highly laudable purpose, experienced builders at various Scottish Fishing stations were commissioned to construct boats after an approved design. Two of these boats were built at Anstruther by Bailie Christopher Pottinger. The first reckoned too small for this coast, was stationed at Lossiemouth, but the second, built in the autumn of 1867, was given in charge to Mr Robert Brown, and latterly to Mr Alex Cunningham, boat skipper, Cellardyke for the tentative purpose of their construction. The boat was on entirely novel principles; each end was fitted with a watertight compartment, the deck and hatchways were secured like a sailing ship, and the hull was also narrower in proportion to length than was in the case of ordinary fishing boats. So thoroughly was she got up that her cost was upward of £300 by the time she was ready for sea. The institution certainly had no mercenary motive in this experiment, as the boat was given over to the skipper on the liberal arrangement that he was to receive one half of her earnings for his trouble, while the other half was to be expended in keeping her in repair. The fact may be new to many, but so great is the tear and wear of a deep sea going boat, that her deal, or share, scarcely suffices to uphold her; and it was not to be expected that the Scotch Lassie – as the boat was named – should yield any percentage through prudence and care, we understand, the outlay from first to last has been fully recovered by receipts. After a trial of three years, during which the boat has been employed in all seasons, she was lately sold to her Skipper, Mr Cunningham for £100. A large sum has thus been expended by the National Lifeboat Institution; but this is of minor importance in the question. Has the experiment succeeded? Certainly not as regards any appreciable influence upon the fishing boats of the coast, inasmuch as the leading advances of the model had been already anticipated – the cabin, the deck, the mizzen in lieu of the mainsail, had previously been adopted – while the specific features of these safety boats may be held to be of more theoretical than practical value. On other parts of the coast, however, these models were obviously a vast improvement, and altogether the Lifeboat Institution deserve well of the country in this laudable endeavour to promote the comfort and secure the safety of our hardy fishermen.
1872
Deaths At Cellardyke, on the 25th ult, in the 12th year of his age, of hydrocephalus, John, son of Skipper William Watson (Jack)
The Scottish Equitable Life Assurance Society – 41st year of the society will close on 1st March 1872 – the funds are ample to meet all obligations, and are securely invested in the United Kingdom. Local agents – George Sharp, merchant Cellardyke.
1873
A Saturday night Spree – At a burgh court held here on Saturday – Provost Todd and bailie Bonthrone on the bench – Robert Anderson and David Wood two young fishermen residing in Cellardyke, pleaded guilty to having committed a breach of the peace by being drunk and disorderly opposite the Salutation Inn towards midnight on Saturday week. It appears that the former panel had been taken into custody by the policeman and lodged in the lock up, but the circumstances of the case were of such a mitigated nature as to induce the magistrates to impose the nominal penalty of a fine of 5s.
Marriages
At Cellardyke, on the 31st ult. By the Rev G Smith of the U.P. Church Anstruther. Mr John Smith, fisherman, Portessie, to Mary, Third daughter of Skipper John Pratt, Cellardyke.
1876
Proposed insurance Club for Boats – the disasters which recently befell five East of Fife Fishing boats, involving a loss of nearly £2000 worth of property, has had the effect of drawing attention to the necessity of an insurance club for boats being established in the district; and with the view of bringing the subject before the fishermen, a public meeting was held in Cellardyke on Saturday evening, at which Provost Martin occupied the chair. Messrs Cook and Oliphant, bankers and Captain kay addressed the meeting, and it was explained that the proposed club was intended to include Cellardyke, Pittenweem, and St Monance, to which places 360 boats belonged, and that by paying a sum of 2s 6d as entry money, each fisherman would be entitled to have a voice in the framing of the rules and appointment of officials. At the close of the meeting, nearly forty boat owners paid the entry money. Similar meetings are shortly to be held at Pittenweem and St Monance.
Shipwrecked mariners Society
The Committee having heard that the towns of Cellardyke and St Monance in Fifeshire, had lost, in one blow, 37 of the flower of their sea going men, leaving 19 widows and 72 orphans and that a local fund was being raised to help these destitute ones, resolved to head the list of contributions with £150.
1877
A storm from the west broke over the East Coast yesterday with a startling suddenness, and as the whole of the boats were at sea, much anxiety was felt for the safety of the crews. Towards dark a number of boats entered Anstruther harbour, including eight belonging to St Monance and three to Fisherrow, and others shortly before the telegraph office closed. About 50 fishing boats belonging to Cellardyke, Pittenweem and St Monance were not accounted for. The fishermen all speak of the storm as extremely severe. A fisherman belonging to Pittenweem named Gay was washed overboard and drowned but so far no further loss of life is reported. While entering Anstruther harbour late on Friday night one of the Cellardyke boats was struck by a sea and dashed up against the breakwater, but although very seriously damaged the crew succeeded in getting her up into the inner harbour.
1878
At a burgh Court held in Cellardyke on Monday – all the Magistrates on the banch – John Watson (Watson), fisherman, residing in James street, was accused of a contravention of the 251st clause of the general Police act, in so far that, according to the complaint, he used threatening and abusive language calculated to provoke a breach of the Peace towards Mrs Ann Graham or Addison, at or near the house of the said complainer on the 17th ult. The panel pleaded not guilty, and was defended by Mr Cook, who held that this offence, though it could be proved by the Fiscal, did not come into the meaning or scope of the act, having been committed in the garden or back yard of the dwelling house of the parties, and not in the street or public place, in which a prosecution could alone proceed. Procurator Fiscal Peebles objected to the definition, and referred to the complaints under which action had been taken in the case of pigstys, but the magistrates sustained the defence and dismissed the charge.
Four schoolboys named Alexander Smith, James Dick and Thomas and Robert Boyter, were then charged with stealing turnips from a field farmed by Mr Gray of Rennyhill, on the 16th of last month. Two of the youthful transgressors only appeared. One of these named Boyter pleaded guilty, but Dick denied the charge of stealing, when Police Constable Forsyth deponed to having seen the boy, whom he identified in court, eating at least his share of the spoil, and his complicity being thus established, the magistrates, after a suitable warning, sentenced each to a fine of 3s 6d.