1900
The late Alexander Watson, Fisherman, Cellardyke, by his disposition and settlement, bequeathed his whole estate, and particularly certain heritable property to his wife in liferent, and to his children, Elisabeth, James, Henry Alexander and Thomas, and to any other child or children procreated or to be procreated of his marriage equally among them and their heirs and assignees in fee. After this settlement had been executed, the daughter Elizabeth died, and another child David was born of the marriage between Alexander Watson and his wife. On the death of Mrs Watson, who survived her husband, the children of the marriage surviving were, James, Henry, Alexander, Thomas and David. Henry died intestate and unmarried in June 1899. In order to complete the winding up of the late Alexander Watson’s estate, and auction of division and sale of the heritable property was recently raised in the sheriff court at Cupar, at the instance of Alexander, Thomas and David Watson, James Watson being called as defender (multiple arguments as to the share split of the property were put forward, and the case went in favour of James.)
1902
Canaries for sale, four cocks and two hens, first crosses, cheap; what offers for lot? Apply Thos. Swinton Cellardyke
1904
With the present heavy swell, entrance to Anstruther harbours is a matter of some difficulty even danger. Yesterday morning huge waves were continually breaking over the East Pier and the Cellardyke boat Integrity, in attempting the passage was driven behind the cement pier, destroying her stem. Another three boats from Cellardyke, St Monance and Peterhead, almost met with the same fate, but luckily a large number of fishermen congregated on the pier and lent assistance in bringing the vessels into harbour.
(another report)
Twenty boats ran the harbour, but four of these were considerably damaged by being driven up the back of the west pier. The boats damaged were the Alice and Integrity of Cellardyke, the Busy Bee of St Monance, stem smashed, and the Mary Stephen of Peterhead, bilge stove in……..
1907
The annual soiree of Cellardyke Parish Church Sunday School was held last Saturday evening in Anstruther Town hall. There was a good attendance – Mr C. Harcourte’s Dramatic Company gave a performance of Bert Coote’s ‘Fatal Wedding’ in the town hall on Monday before a fair house.
John Kirkwood, labourer, West Forth Street, Cellardyke, was at Cupar Sheriff Court yesterday, convicted on evidence of a contravention of the Poaching Prevention Act, and fined 12s 6d or seven days imprisonment. The accused was found on Sunday 3rd February in possession of a gate net for catching rabbits at the end of Cellardyke, by Sergeant Mc hardy, Anstruther. Sheriff Armour modified the sentence on the ground that he had already been punished for stealing hens on 3rd Feb and that his poaching attempt had apparently been unsuccessful.
1909
An exciting incident occurred at Anstruther about two o’clock yesterday morning on the arrival of the fleet from the fishing grounds.
The night was stormy, and a heavy sea ran. The Cellardyke boat Triumph when making for the harbour was struck by a heavy sea, and practically swamped. She became unmanageable, and one of the crew with a rope round him swam to the pier, and in this way the other members of the crew got safely ashore. The vessel was washed upon the west beach and is totally wrecked, although the gear has been recovered.
The bravery of one of the crew who swam ashore with the rope, William Wilson, Cellardyke, nearly cost him his life, as his swim was accomplished with heavy sea boots and thick clothing. Although the distance to the pier was not great, he was much exhausted and buffeted by the heavy sea. The incident was witnessed by a great many fishermen. The loss of the boat is covered by insurance.
1910
A largely attended meeting of fishermen was held in Cellardyke town hall on Saturday night to consider a petition to the fishery board for Scotland as to the damage done to the Winter herring fishing in the firth of Forth by the bag net fishing as practised in the upper reaches of the Firths of Forth and Tay.. In the petition (which is to be signed by fishermen from Dunbar, Eyemouth, Cockenzie, Buckhaven to Crail, and Broughty ferry to Ferryden) it is stated that the bag net fishing results in a great destruction of young and immature herring, cod, ling, haddock and plaice and has a very injurious effect on the winter herring fishing, and so the inshore line fishing. The meeting was unanimously in favour of the petition which prays for the abolition of bag net fishing and it was signed by many fishermen. It was also decided to form a fisherman’s association, to combine with similar associations in other places for the purpose of securing better protection against the depredations of the steam trawlers, the operations of which are considered very harmful to the spawnings of herrings and white fish. Better policing of territorial waters by Fishery board cruisers was stated to be what was desired.
1911
Delegates appointed at a meeting of fishermen held in Cellardyke Town hall on Saturday Evening – Provost Black presiding – to attend a conference of the East coast Fishermen’s protection Association to be held in Edinburgh were instructed to press for the abolition of bag net fishing, for the imposition of the 13 mile limit for trawlers and for the abolition of Sunday fishing as carried on by English Fishermen.