1802
For sale by Public Roup
That SHADE on the Shore of Cellardyke presently possessed by James and Peter Davidson, and used by them for curing herrings and white fish.
1828
Crail- A fishing boat belonging to Cellardyke from Eden to Cellardyke, deeply laden with shell fish for bait, swamped within a quarter of a mile from the harbour here, and, melancholy to relate, six men were drowned, and only one saved. The man saved, named Davidson, has to lament the loss of two sons, a brother, and a brother’s son. (The boat was the Olive, part of a fleet of Cellardyke boats collecting mussels for line bait)
1842
Anstruther – A large specimen of the short sun fish, Orthagoriscus inula, was brought on shore here last week, by one of the Cellardyke fishing It measured upwards of four feet in length, six feet depth between the extremities of the dorsal and anal fins; its weight was from twenty-five to thirty stones. When first observed, its dorsal fin was only seen, and it was moving through the water very slowly. Though occurring but occasionally, it may be said to have been taken from John o’Groats to the Land’s End. Previous to present year, seven or eight examples have been known to occur in the Frith of Forth, and this is the fourth specimen which has been caught this year. Another is said to have been observed at the mouth of the Frith by our fishermen Saturday last. It is a dull, stupid fish, and when once seen may be easily caught. This fish has been considered general to live on sea-weeds and shell fish, but a large haddock was found half-digested in the stomach of the specimen under consideration. The fish was purchased by Messrs Goodsir, surgeons, here, who are preparing it scientifically for a place in their already well-stocked museum.
1849
Cellardyke. – Saturday, while the crew of one of the boats belonging to the above place were pursuing their usual avocation on the mighty deep, one of their number suddenly took ill, and being asked by his comrades what his aliment was, answered that he thought it was cholera. This announcement made them to cease shooting their lines, which they were then in the act of doing, and prepare immediately to haul those they had already shot. But finding him still getting worse, and the cramp (that sure forerunner of cholera being in its last stage) having attacked him violently in the breast, they immediately cut their lines and went home; but, before they could arrive there, his whole body was so stiffened with the cramp that he was like a marble statue. Having reached the harbour, a cart was immediately procured, which drove him to his own home, where he received that heat and comfort which his stiffened limbs most greatly needed, but which also came too late. He died the same evening at about nine o’clock. It is impossible for us not to sympathise with the wretched man in the circumstances in which he was placed, while he was attacked with the disease. In an open boat on the open sea, no comfort could be procured to alleviate the dreadful pain which he suffered, no medicine to allay the fierce effects of the disease, and no consolation from the partner of his life to soothe and assuage his sufferings, and to calm his grieved and troubled mind with cheering and consolatory words.
1851
Time was, says the Pittenweem Register in doleful treble, when “the fiddle and the bow,’ would have been heard in all quarters—in every town on the East Coast at the end of the fishing, but the failure of the present drave has cast a gloom over the spirits of our fishermen; and the inspiring notes of “the fiddle and the bow” are nowhere to be heard. Last year at this time five couples were proclaimed in one day at St. Monance—the wrights in Cellardyke were at work night and day making furniture tor those who were entering the happy state—but, this season, there is not the sound of a hammer. The tailors and dress-makers had likewise to work extra hours; and, though last, not least, the session-clerks will feel the scarcity of many a dainty half-sovereign in payment of their customary dues. The women, who are always the best informed in such matters, calculate that there are from forty to forty-five marriages postponed for the present, in consequence of the unfortunate failure in tile herring fishing.
1856
George Sutherland, cooper, Cellardyke, charged with assault there, was fined 10s or 10 days imprisonment.
1861
In Cellardyke, two houses were sold a few days since which rented £3 and £4 respectively, the former for £100 and the later for £153
Cellardyke, it is gratifying to state that there is no stagnation, especially in those matters which best indicate the prosperity and well-being of a community: we allude to the numerous marriages there in course of celebration. The other Sunday no fewer than five couple were proclaimed in the Parish Church; and as these occasions are marked with no little festivity and display, the town frequently presents gay and animated appearance. Strangers in the locality have often been surprised at the early age at which these unions take place, and certainly there is no class where the opinions of Malthus are so little regarded as amongst fishermen; the nature of their calling renders it necessary; but it may also be stated that a due regard is generally had to a proper provision for an event of which the weal and comfort of life so much depend.
The fishermen of Cellardyke, Pittenweem, and St Monance, enrolled in this naval force the number of 80 or 90, left this port on Tuesday by the Leith and Anstruther steamer Forth for Leith, to undergo month’s drill on board H.M.S. Edinburgh, lying in Queensferry Roads.
The White fishing —A partial commencement of the haddock fishing was made by two Cellardyke boats on Tuesday, when they returned with about forty-five dozen each—one-fourth of which were full -sized marketable fish. The boats of the neighbouring towns seem to content themselves with trawling the herring fishing ground off the port, to the detriment of future fishing seasons.
1862
On Saturday last, the Coast Volunteers belonging to the fishing towns of the East of Fife, embarked here for Leith on their way to join the training ship Menai, now lying off Queensferry. By the terms of enrolment, month’s attendance is required at drill the course of the year; and as the present is the least productive period of the fishing, it has been preferred for this purpose. They numbered about seventy altogether— forty being from Cellardyke, and the remainder from Pittenweem and Monance. Their appearance was highly creditable to their respective communities, they were all active, spirited young men.
1864
CELLARDYKE. Concert.—On Friday evening, a concert of vocal and instrumental music, under the patronage of the officers of the 3d Fifeshire Rifles, was given in the Female schoolroom here, by and for the benefit of the brass band of that corps. Besides the band, who acquitted themselves in admirable style, in a number of popular tunes, Mr Alexander Hay, and other amateurs also took part in the proceedings. Mr Hay sung with his usual taste and spirit several patriotic and sentimental songs, while the humorous element of the entertainment was contributed by Mr Gr. Thomson, who ably sustained, on this occasion, his wide repute as a comic singer and ventriloquist. Mr G. Butters also gave in a creditable style a number of select recitations. The various pieces were, all cases, much enjoyed and applauded by the audience, which, however, was less numerous than the merits of tie entertainment deserved.
The line fishing has now been actively commenced for the season, and when the weather has proved favourable, the boats have made daily trips to the fishing ground. The takes have ranged from forty to sixty dozen of haddocks; but in point of quality the fish have been generally inferior and small in size. The demand has been active, and the price may be quoted at 1s per dozen, for large and small indiscriminately counted. This season there are thirty-nine large boats belonging to Cellardyke engaged the white fishing, besides several yawls, manned principally by old men and boys, who confine their labours to the Firth.
1866
This season there will be thirty-nine Cellardyke boats engaged in the deep sea fishing; but, besides these, there are five yawls the line fishing the coast. In addition to this goodly fleet, six Cellardyke boats, besides the Pioneer, have proceeded the Yarmouth herring fishing, where they will be stationed until the approach of the New Year.
1867
On Saturday last, two dwelling-houses, situated near the harbour of Cellardyke, the one belonging to the late James Brown, and the other Mr Charles Carstairs, were exposed for sale in the Town Hall there. This the third time that these properties bad been publicly offered, but, notwithstanding, the eligibility of their situation, no sale could be effected. The upset price this occasion was reduced to £180 and £130 respectively, but in neither case was an offer made. It would appear from the comparatively greater demand for, and the higher prices which are being realised for houses in the west end the town, that this locality is being preferred by the fishermen, owing, of course, to its proximity to the Union Harbour. We hear of an old property situated in that part the town, for which no sale could be effected when offered a fortnight ago at public roup, having changed hands the other day for £13O.
The Cooper Trade.-—A few years ago coopering held a very respectable place as the staple trade of the locality; but since the failure of the herring fishing it has declined so far that instead of about 150 coopers being employed Anstruther and Cellardyke during the busy part of the season, as was then the case, there has been this year less than forty journeymen at work. Of course this number has been still further reduced now that the herring fishing is at an end, and according to the present prospects of the trade, there will fewer hands employed for some months to come than for any similar period since the fishing was resumed in the Firth. A dispute seems also exist amongst the fishcurers and their men as the rate of wages for the ensuing season, and this has caused a number of men to be thrown out of work for the time being. The coopers are demanding 18s, which is an allowance of 1s for making barrel “out the rough” as it is technically called. In some cases, however, the men are known to be working for 16s a-week, and so employers generally are disposed resist the higher demands of the unemployed workmen, who, on the other hand, contend that they have right at least to labourers’ wages, which now run at 3s per day. Under those circumstances, many of the local coopers are to proceed Yarmouth take employment under the fish buyers there. As the number of curers in Anstruther and Cellardyke who are about to engage in the haddock fishing is to be two or three less this winter than for the last two three seasons, it is not improbable that only about fifteen coopers will be working here during that period, at a rate of wages ranging from 16s to £l.
George Smith, Fisherman, Cellardyke was charged with having assaulted Charles Cook, on the 20th September. He pleaded not guilty, but was found guilty and was sentenced to pay a fine of 25s or suffer 20 days imprisonment.
The Great Ocean Race.—Captain Keay, the commander of the Ariel, the winner of the great tea ship race, is a native of Anstruther, and Captain Rodger, of Glasgow, the owner of the Taeping, the great rival of the Ariel, is a native of the adjoining town of Cellardyke.
1868
Stonehaven – On Sabbath morning last, we were visited with a violent sea storm, accompanied by strong gale wind from the southeast, and a heavy fall of rain. Between ten and eleven in the forenoon, considerable commotion was caused by a report that a fishing boat was trying to make the harbour. Vast numbers flocked down to the shore, and preparations were made for launching the life-boat, but happily its services were not required. Notwithstanding the heavy sea running, the boat was ultimately safely landed within the harbour and proved to be the “Splendid” of Cellardyke, which had left Peterhead on the previous evening, when she was overtaken the heavy gale which rose towards morning. The crew were much exhausted, and they deserve great praise for the way in which they managed their boat in the tempestuous sea and strong gale blowing. Praise is also due to those in charge of the life-boat for the promptitude displayed in getting it out, and preparing for emergency which fortunately did not arise.
Anstruther
On Tuesday last, while the Cellardyke deep sea going boat of which Mr John Birrel is skipper, was out at the fishing ground, the crew observed a vessel floating bottom up about six miles distant in east south-east direction from the Bell Rock. When the fishermen observed the wreck they were busy working their fishing lines, but the waves were breaking white over her it was impossible to ascertain any particulars respecting the ill-fated ship. Nothing further therefore can be told of the disaster, or the fate of the unfortunate men who had formed the crew.
1869
For sale~ A YAWL, just finished, 19 Feet long, well adapted for the Clyde fishing. Also, a Ship’s boat (new), 15ft. 6in. long. Apply to JOHN Miller, Boatbuilder, Cellardyke.
The poor success of the white fishing is inducing many more crews to try their fortunes at the herring fishing in the Clyde, and some four or five more Cellardyke boats are being fitted out this week. These departures, with the boats that left in the beginning of the week for Yarmouth, will reduce white fishing fleet to about twenty boats, and this number would be further lessened if the herrings were to set in as they did last season in the west. From recent reports, however, comparatively little is being done in Clyde, and prospects are said to no means encouraging. At Yarmouth, also, the fishing is as yet a blank —the takes being light, and wretched quality.