1865
There has been collected by public conscription on behalf of the widows and children of the unfortunate Cellardyke crew that perished on the 10th May last, the sum of £375 14s 6d.
On Saturday evening the committee which was originally formed for the purpose of collecting and distributing the subscriptions for the widows and children of the fishermen who perished on the 10th May, met in the Free Church hall here. Present, James Fowler, David Murray (Sharpe and Murray); Mr R Cunningham Baxter ; Mr C Carstairs, Mr G Barclay Rodger, and Mr A Watson Murray…… It was resolved that a monthly allowance of £6 18s should be paid to each of the three widows which they should receive at the shop of Messrs Sharpe and Murray on the first Monday of each month. It was also agreed to impress upon the widows the importance of sending their children regularly to school, and that the school fees should be paid out of the fund. Mr Murray was also empowered in the event of any extraordinary emergency befalling any of the families to afford what extra assistance he might consider needful in that circumstances…….
On Saturday afternoon last, as the salmon fishers in the employment of Mr George Thomson, were engaged in working their nets at Kilrenny Mill Bay, they found that a halibut of very large dimensions had been taken prisoner in the usual manner. It allowed itself to be quietly taken into the coble, which was so far fortunate for its two captors; but even as it was, the transfer was not completed without some difficulty, as the fish was fully six stones in weight.
Anstruther Harbour commission
The Provost who had been appointed with Messrs Macintosh, Martin and D Murray , Cellardyke, as a deputation from the Lifeboat Committee, had applied on behalf of the Committee for a site for the lifeboat house. The vacant ground at the roadway at the back of the East Pier had been granted for the erection of a wooden house for the coble originally proposed by the Cellardyke fishermen (N.B this was before the outer harbour was built , the site discussed would be at the head of the now middle pier), but as a building there could ponly be temporary, some members of the committee wished that the boat house be placed contiguous with the ropewalk; but the opposition of the fishermen had led to a change in this intention, and the application now made by the Provost had reference to a site at the back of the West Pier contiguous to the cross, On consulting with James Balfour, mason, as to the probable expense of erecting a sea wall and bringing the site to a level with the street, and thus prepare it for the erection of the house the Provost said he had been told by Mr Balfour that an outlay of £160 would be required. The board, however, had nothing to do with the expense which rested entirely with the Lifeboat Committee, the only question before them being granting a site. After a lengthened discussion, it was eventually agreed to grant the committee either a permanent site at the cross or a Temporary one at the Forth, as a building there would have to be removed as soon as the new harbour works were in progress. An application was also submitted by the provost and from Thomas Tarvit, fisherman, Cellardyke, requesting to be appointed a harbour pilot. The provost said that Thomas had asked for the appointment not with the object of opposing the present pilot, William Parker, but solely in order that ship owners might recover the insurance of their vessels in the event of a disaster occurring while they were under his charge, as in the absence of the usual Pilot, he often acted in that capacity. A lengthened discussion followed on the matter, but it was agreed to let the application lie over until the next meeting when the sentiments of William Parker, the present pilot, could be learned as to the application..
The fishing fleet for the ensuing season – The following number of boats, which may be expected to be fitted out from various stations of the Anstruther district, with a comparative view of the fleet of last year
1865 1864
Anstruther and Cellardyke 173 170
Pittenweem 58 56
St Monance 104 103
Largo 18 15
Buckhaven 120 130
Crail 5 5
Kingsbarns 2 2
St Andrews 9 10
1868
The Great Ocean Race. —We understand that Captain Roger (Cellardyke & Glasgow), the owner of the world famed Taeping and other first-class clipper ships, has just received intelligence to the effect that the magnificent vessel just named sailed from Foo Choo on the 28th May, with a full cargo of the first teas of the season, and that the new ship, the Lah Loo, of which so much is expected, left the same port on the 30th May, or two days later, also with full cargo on board. The Taeping is under the command of Captain Dowdie, and the Lah Loo of Captain John Smith, Anstruther. We are not informed as to the Spindrift, with which the latter ship competed so successfully on the outward passage, but it is believed that other ships will also by the above dates have sailed from Foo Choo, so that the great ocean race of this year is now being eagerly run, each captain of course tasking his gallant craft to the utmost night and day that he may be the first to reach the homeward goal. We understand that heavy stakes have been taken upon the Lah Loo, the newest of the magnificent China fleet, and, encouraged by her splendid outward performance, she appears to be generally regarded as the favourite ship of the race.
NB the Taeping beat the Ariel in 1866, The Lah Loo did not win the tea clipper race until 1870 but was no longer owned by Alex Rodger
At Justice of Peace Court, held on Wednesday, before R. Walker, Esq., Henry Lindsay, Esq., Collector of Customs, appeared to give information against John Jack, fisherman, of the Neptune, Cellardyke fishing-boat, for smuggling. The accused, while lying off the French lugger, St Maria, of Boulogne, in the river, had been seen by the out-door officer of Customs, Mr James Hendry, to carry jar from the lugger into his boat, which, on examination, was found contain a quart of brandy. He pled guilty; and was sentenced to pay fine of 7s. with 9s. of expenses.
1869
Seizure of Unwholesome Meat.—On Thursday last, flesher from Dundee of the name of David Bruce arrived in Cellardyke with the carcase of ox, which he exposed for sale in a cellar near the harbour. The town crier made the usual intimation with the bell, – the meat being offered at 6d per pound—a large quantity of it was soon disposed of to the inhabitants. While the sale, however, was briskly going on, George Watson, the vigilant Inspector of Nuisances for the Burgh, happened to visit the place, and his suspicions having been aroused by the appearance of the meat, he at once communicated with Bailie Sharp, which led to examination of the carcase, or rather what remained of it, by Dr McArthur, who gave it as his unqualified opinion that the meat was inflamed and altogether unfit for human food. Under these circumstances, and acting upon the summary provisions of the Public Health Act, Mr Watson seized the meat, and brought Bruce before the Magistrates, who met for the purpose in the Town Ball towards noon. Provost Martin and Bailies Sharp and Watson occupied the bench; when, the Inspector having stated the facts of the case, the Court ordered the meat to be forfeited and destroyed, but, on consideration of this being the first offence, no penalty was imposed, but Bruce was warned that, if he repeated the offence, he would be punished to the utmost rigour of the law. About ten stones of the meat were accordingly buried by the Inspector, but we hear that before the seizure was made Bruce had realised about £9 for what he had sold.