1910
A sad drowning has occurred at Cellardyke harbour, whereby four lives have been lost.
For the past few days herring have been got very close in to the shore, with the result that the boats have been engaged in that vicinity.
The big boats, however, have been unable to get close in to the land, with the result that the smaller yawls, which are not as a rule used for herring fishing, were utilised under the unusual circumstances.
David Mair skipper of the Pittenweem yawl Morning Star, shot nets not far from Cellardyke harbour and sometime after began to haul them in. it was found that the nets were heavy with herring, and after fifteen crans had been taken on board it was found necessary to call the assistance of another yawl.
Before this yawl could approach the Morning Star sank. The cause being the overload of herring and the slight swell of the sea.
One of the crew McBain swam to the approaching yawl. The four other members of the crew were not seen again. Their names are
David Mair (49) who leaves two young Children and six grown up
His son Willie Mair (16)
Neil Hughes, who leaves a widow and two children
His brother Thomas Hughes (16)
A pathetic feature of the sad affair is that this is the first time this year Willie Mair had gone to sea, owing to ill health of late.
Thomas McBain, son of William McBain, west shore, who was rescued in an exhausted condition by Skipper Andrew Watson, Water Wynd, of the Yawl Maggies, lies in a precarious condition.
Six of the Pittenweem yawls are grappling with irons for the bodies.
1912
Yesterday afternoon while a Cellardyke fisherman was taking a walk along the beach between Cellardyke and Crail, he discovered the body of a man lying on the rocks near Caplie Caves. The body was much decomposed, and was that of a man of about 45 years of age 5 ft. 8 inches in height, wanted part of the right leg below the knee and was dressed in a dark overcoat, blue jacket, dark trousers and vest.
1913
The Annual meeting of the East Coast Fisheries Association, was held in the Free Gardner’s hall, Edinburgh.
Never in its history, extending over a period of nearly quarter of a Century, had there been such an extra ordinary increase in its members, and that had been largely due to the Insurance Act. A discussion on the act was opened by Mr Bertram, who said that they had between 2000 – 3000 men standing out, and they were determined at any cost, at any rate until the test case decided the question not to consent to compulsory insurance………. Mr Bett Cellardyke, said that he had been much harassed by the government agents, and complained of the ignorance of the officials regarding the conditions of the fishermen. He had had lawyers in the house, agents of the commissioners in the house, all wanting information, after a straight and honest statement of the things wanted had already been provided. He alleged that the inspectors came to Cellardyke with lies, telling them in many districts the fishermen were all going under the Act. He was told that the Buckie men were all in. but two or three days after he received a letter from a friend I the North stating that they had resolved not to yield. The Commissioners, he said were trying to catch the fishermen, and put them in a snare. He hoped that everyman would be like Mr Marshall, ready to go to jail (hear hear)
1915
Forty One Skipper’s fined
Fishing in Prohibited Area
Forty one skippers of motor and sail fishing boats from Fife ports and Cockenzie and Eyemouth, appeared before Sheriff Armour Hannay at Cupar on Tuesday, charged with having, between sunset on 25th and sunrise on 26th February, fished with nets in a prohibited area in the Forth, contrary to the order of the Admiral commanding at Rosyth. (List of names from all ports…) Alex Lothian, skipper of the Sailboat Snowflight, Cellardyke, Thomas Bett (Fowler) skipper of the motor fishing boat Cornucopia, Cellardyke, Thomas Bett Skipper of the steam drifter, Scot, Cellardyke; John Muir (Keay) Skipper of the steam drifter Camperdown; Leslie Jack Skipper of the Steam drifter Suffolk County, Cellardyke; William Smith (Jimie) skipper of the Steam Drifter Olive Leaf, Cellardyke…. John Wilson skipper of the sail fishing boat Ruby, Cellardyke, Alex Muir, skipper of the fishing yawl Nymph, Cellardyke……
Mr T w Davidson, Solicitor, Cupar, who appeared for the accused, said that the same explanation applied in practically all the cases. The weather was hazy when they had gone out. They shot their nets within the area which they were entitled to fish, but the flood tide carried them along faster than they realised. They could not exactly tell their bearings, and the offence had been more of a result of misadventure rather than of intention…
Mr Brander (County Fiscal) said that this was the night the patrol boat broke her propeller by running along nets. The sheriff asked if any further offences had been committed since his previous warning to Skippers.
Mr Branders – sorry to say five or six cases have been reported.
Sheriff We will know how to deal with these five or six. I take it that these cases refer to a time previous to my warning, and though it may be erring on the side of leniency. I propose to impose the same modified penalty as before 3 or 15 days.
All the accused pleaded guilty, with the exception of Thomas Bett, Cellardyke and John Wilson Cellardyke, and their trials were fixed for 6th April. The others were each fined 33 or 15 days imprisonment, a month being granted in which to pay/
The belief on the part of a number of the accused that they were innocent gave rise to a number of amusing Incidents, James Allan Skipper of the motor fishing boat, Golden Queen, St Monans said he ‘would just have to plead guilty to please the Admiralty’ Another of the accused refused to plead guilty, but said he would pay the fine, ‘It would be a lie for me to plead guilty’ he said. And my conscience would not allow me to do it. How many days will I have to go to jail?’ (Laughter) Accused ultimately said he would pay the fine.
3 days later
John McRuvie (Tawse) skipper of the fishing boat Calceolaria, Cellardyke admitted at Cupar today being within the prohibited area of the Firth of Forth between sunrise on the 3rd and sunrise of the 4th March
Mr A Grossett, Cupar, explained that the accused’s boat was a motor boat. They had broken down and they had drifted into the prohibited area.
The fiscal stated that the accused was a mile and a half west of the line when challenged by the patrol boat.
In the special circumstances his lordship admonished the accused.