1846
It is our painful duty to record two cases of sudden and unexpected death, which have occurred in this locality. On the evening of Saturday last, the 11th inst, Mr Robert Peebles, mason Anstruther Wester, while in the house of an old acquaintance, where he had gone to make a call, and when sitting conversing with the parties present, suddenly and unexpectedly breathed his last. He had been working I the morning at West Anstruther Church, which is being rebuilt, and had left his house in the evening in apparently good health, and by 9 o’ Clock he was a corpse. The deceased was a quiet sober man – a respectable member of society and an Elder of the established Church – On Monday morning, Mr George Smith a fisherman , Cellardyke after returning from sea, complained of sickness, and in a few minutes expired. Both of these individuals were pretty far advanced in years, but quite able, we believe to follow their usual avocations.
1847
Dundee harbour
Gale- On Thursday we were visited with the most severe gales of wind from the west which we have experienced during the season. It began about nine o’ clock in the morning, and attained its greatest height about two in the afternoon, at which time the river Tay was one sheet of foam, like drifting snow. A fishing boat belonging to Cellardyke in endeavouring to make the harbour, was very sorely put to, and had to lower her sail and reef. She at last made the back of the east round head, where she grounded; but being then under shelter of the pier she sustained no damage. The men on board, eight in number, were very much fatigued, and thoroughly drenched with the spray..
1849
Owing to the weather, the fishing here wore a gloomy appearance last week, indeed the boats were only once at sea, and even then their labour was but ill repaid. The shoals of haddocks, which usually come upon our coast at this season, have not yet made their appearance; but, if the weather would permit, it is hoped that the great line fishing would repay the perseverance of our enterprising fishermen.
Three boats belonging to this place, with crews of eight men each, sailed last month to prosecute the fishing on the coats of Ross shire and Isle of Skye, under the direction of the Edinburgh section of the highland destitution Committee, with a view to stimulate and instruct the native Highlanders in the prosecution of the white fishery. The Cellardyke fishermen have been long noted for their arduous calling at all seasons of the year, and from the energetic and enterprising character of the crews engaged, the efficiency of their boats, and abundance of fishing tackle, there is every reason to hope, if fish are to be found within fifty miles of the coast, that this enterprise will be successful. The committee have acted wisely in selecting first class fishermen for this attempt, as thereby the fact will be ascertained whether there are sufficiency of fish on the coats as will give a suitable remuneration to the fishermen, and thereby encourage the natives to preserve in it. And should the fact be ascertained that an abundance of fish are on the coast, much will still remain to be done to produce such a change on the long formed habits of the Highland fishermen and cottagers as will lead them to adopt the fishing as their exclusive employment, for until this be done it will never be prosecuted with success……….. unless men are trained to it from their youth, and have nothing else to fall back on, few will be found either in the Highlands or elsewhere to continue to prosecute it with that perseverance which is absolutely necessary to its success……. By engaging first class fishermen practically to ascertain on what parts of the coast the fishing could be most successfully prosecuted, then they could provide harbours… and encourage the population to locate in villages at those station, by allowing them on easy terms to acquire houses and small properties of their own.. and would enrich their country with treasures of the deep..
1855
Cellardyke- Post Office accommodation With the introduction of the national and judicious system of penny postage, greater facilities for the postage and delivery of letters have been adopted for the convenience of the masses in general. Under these circumstances we have often been surprised how Cellardyke containing upwards of 2000 of a population, should have been so long debarred from enjoying the benefit of having a ‘special letter delivery or a receiving box’ for the accommodation of the inhabitants. A short time since, through the exertions of Mr Fowler, our chief manager, the unceasing benefactor of this place, and other influential merchants in the town, a petition was transmitted to the Post Office Authorities, calling their attention to our want of postal arrangements. The petition was confided to the care of Mr Ellice MP, and the proper authorities having taken a favourable view of it, we are happy to now to record that a ‘sub office’ was opened a few days ago in the house of our respected townsman, Mr. Thomas Brown. From the central position of the office it will be felt a great boon by the inhabitants, who are certainly greatly indebted to those gentlemen who have taken a leading hand in its establishment.