1857
On Tuesday last, four boats belonging Cellardyke delivered,at the quay of Eyemouth, from 3000 to 4000 haddocks each, and a large quantity of cod. The total gross of fish delivered from these boats was nearly 16 000 fish..
1862
Dundee.
The Pearls of the Deep – Complaints are very often made as to the scarcity of fresh fish and on the exorbitant prices demanded for them when they are to be had, and thrifty housewives may frequently be heard lamenting on the good old times, when a dozen fine haddocks, which would now realise between two to three shillings, might have been purchased for nine pence. Yesterday morning, between nine and ten, seven boats came into the harbour with fish, and for the contents of one craft from Cellardyke, the handsome sum of “20 12s ready money was realised, not a bad sum for a night’s work. The fishing of the other six boats drew from £7 to £9 each, and altogether the money handed over to the fishermen within an hour by the parties who – to judge by their personal appearance – would not have been thought worth a sixpence, amounted to £60, or £70. The news system of disposing of the shots by a licensed auctioneer on the pier head seems to give satisfaction.
Lecture to fishermen on the subject of emigration to Australia
…….. the number of fishermen are so few that the quantity of fish taken at present is only like a drop in the ocean to supply the daily demand…. The encouragement just now being held out by the Queensland Government is worth consideration. All emigrants proceeding there, and paying their own passage, receive, after two years, the value of what it has cost them going out, reckoning each acre of land to be worth L1. Five fishermen, or a boats crew going out there each man paying say L30 for his passage and outfit, would receive 150 acres of land besides the advantage of reaping the harvest of the sea……. From Whitby to John o Groats, there are not fewer than 45 000 fishermen with from 1200 to 1400 open fishing boats. Surely the old Mother Country might spare her children in the colonies a few fishermen from that lot. The open boats too, are much better adapted for those southern climates than what they are for our inclement and boisterous northern regions. Taking out a set of these boats to the colonies – first, second and third class boats, by removing the thwarts from the first and second class boats, they can be put inside of each other thus economising space. Each emigrant is allowed 20 cubic feet for their luggage on board of ship. The length of a first class fishing boat over all is 37 feet, extreme
breadth 14feet, depth from gunwale to the lower part of keel 7 feet. Weight of material I the boat’s construction, say 4 ton. Sails, nets Lines and other cordage, can all be packed within the boats. After arriving in the colonies, and the thwarts in their large boats replaced, fishermen would at once be ready for action, and they might easily manage there, in fine weather with an awning, to live on board until suitable houses were built for them onshore. Young men from 18 – 35 years old are preferred as emigrants, although it is known the salubrity of the climate is in favour of prolongation of life.
A few years ago some fishermen from Penzance sailed out to Melbourne with their decked fishing vessels, and succeeded with their enterprise. Also a number of open boat fishermen, fond of adventure, let Cellardyke, about the same time and emigrated on board of ship to the colonies. Accounts of these men confirm the certainty of success, when good conduct, and sobriety is cultivated…
1863
The fitting and rigging out of the new fishing lugger ‘Alexandra’ (built by Christopher Pottinger at the West End of Anstruther Harbour, the Alexandra design was based on the Yarmouth luggers but slightly shallower draft, she was crewed by 10 Cellardyke fishermen, and launched on the 9th April) having been completed, a trial was made of her sailing qualities on Saturday last. In the morning she was run several miles out to sea, and put on various tacks, in all of which she gave the fullest satisfaction, fully realising the high expectations that were generally formed from the beauty and symmetry of her model. On returning to the shore, her sailing qualities were subjected to a test, the result of which in itself proves how well she is adapted for an employment for which speed is of paramount importance. Amongst the fishermen considerable curiosity existed as to the issue of a trial of speed between this vessel and their large boats. Accordingly as she approached the harbour, two of these were manned and started – one from this (Anstruther) and the other from Cellardyke harbour – to give her a challenge., which of course was readily accepted. The weather on the whole was well suited for the purpose, the sea being quite smooth, with a fine full sail breeze from the south west. After steering five or six miles to the eastward of the Isle of May, they returned to land, their progress being watched with deep and lively interest on the shore. The lugger was the first to enter the harbour, followed however at no great distance by one of the boats, both being heartily cheered by the large crowds who thronged the quays. Although the result of the contest was in this case in favour of the lugger, yet the fishermen in general confidently look forward to another opportunity, and which as she is now ready to prosecute the fishing, will erelong be afforded. In reference to the sea going qualities of the Cellardyke boats, we may record an incident which occurred during the last French war;- At that time the captain of a British frigate, cruising in the North Sea observed one of these boats engaged in fishing at a considerable distance from the land, the weather also having a threatening appearance. Supposing so small a boat would never in the face of so much danger be able to reach the land, the captain induced by humanity, offered to take the crew on board, which however they declined. He then proposed to give them a convoy, but although sail after sail was hoisted on the frigate for this purpose, the little craft sailed so much faster that the frigate was soon lost in the distance. Since that period these boats have greatly increased in size, and while these crews have gained in experience, they have lost none of that skill and daring which have ever distinguished them. The fastest clippers and yachts on the coast which have ever come in contact with them have, in no small measure, been stripped of their laurels by these boats, which are unrivalled on the East Coast.
Several Cellardyke boats are at present preparing to proceed to Stornoway to engage in the herring fishing, induced by the success with which it has been prosecuted there for a number of seasons past.
– In consequence of the greater facilities with which from it’s seaward position, the fishing can be carried on in this locality, (Cellardyke) as also the superiority of it’s market, from the number and enterprise of its curers, fishermen from other districts in the Forth have been desirous of removing here, the difficulty however of obtaining house accommodation has hitherto proved insurmountable. The operations of the Building Company in Cellardyke is now likely to afford the desiderated opportunity, and several Buckhaven families are amongst those who have already applied for houses. (these houses are described as model plans for fishermen’s houses, – as not only his own and family’s comfort have been carefully attended to, but ample storage has been provided for the material of his vocation as well) – In Anstruther not only are the house rents much higher than in the neighbouring towns, but several families who, in consequence of some contemplated improvements, have received notices to quit, have failed to obtain other houses for the approaching term