1865
William Gardner, a fisherman from Cellardyke pled guilty to having assaulted his brother, and a married woman, and also having committed two separate acts of breach of the peace on the evening of 31st December and morning of 1st January and was sentenced to pay a fine of 30s or to go to prison for 30 days.
1866
Female Employment in the East of Fife. Poets and day dreamers have conceived a charming picture of woman’s sphere and work in the social economy when they assign to her the domestic circle and leaving her there to shed light and happiness 0n the hearth and hearts of her stronger brothers. ……. In Anstruther and the adjoining towns, where the fishing is carried on to the greatest extent, the employment of the industrious females is more identified with that important branch of local industry. Apart from the summer drave, when a prosperous fishing day and the high premiums offered for workers tempt forth most of the fairer portion of the community to assist in the curing operation, very considerable amount of employment afforded to females by the prosecution of the line fishing. In the several fish curing premises in Anstruther and Cellardyke alone many seventy women are engaged in preparing the white fish for market. Of course, their employment very uncertain and precarious, as it is altogether determined by the success of the fishermen. We cannot illustrate our remark better than by stating that in the course of the winter their earnings will sometimes rise to 10s per week, while for days and weeks their services are never required in the curing yard, and they are paid the rate of 2d the hour for the tune they are employed, of course, the exchequers then will be down to zero. No doubt the work in those fish curing yards, if not very severe, is rough and unwomanly, is markedly demonstrated – very masculine nature of their habiliments. Their work too, is generally carried on at the most unseasonable hours, especially at the haddock fishing, when they are often employed over midnight. Yet. in passing tae scene their labour, one is often surprised to hear the mirth that is going on amongst them for the silent echoes of the lone midnight hour will often be wakened up by the ringing laugh that follows the ready or, perchance, will be tilled with the melody rich voices joining in some favourite song, or it may be the grander and more solemn swell the hymn of praise.
1867
In the course of the week, four luggers have arrived from Scarborough, for the prosecuting of the great line fishing. …..About three or four weeks ago, one of the deep sea-going Cellardyke boats was out at the fishing, a part of the lines were drawn and taken away south side crew. All that the Cellardyke crew could learn of the strangers was the number their boat. The assistance of Mr Gillis, the very efficient fishery officer of the district, having being applied for, and obtained, that gentleman, with nothing more than the number of the boat to direct his inquiries, lost no time in requesting the custom-house authorities Leith for information relative to the ownership of the boat. This having been obtained it was found that the boat belonged to Prestonpans. A letter was accordingly sent the owner demanding restitution the lines, which were immediately sent to Leith for conveyance thither by the steamer, and in due course the Cellardyke crew regained possession of their lost gear
Sometime ago we reported that the smack War Hawk, of Pittenweem, had been fitted out as a trawler. That speculation, however, well as her great line fishing cruises, have proved a complete failure, and the vessel and her gear are now for sale. The great line fishing has been commenced by the Pioneer, of Cellardyke, but with little success that little more than 30s was realised for the fishing trip. The vessel sailed on Saturday morning, and returned two days afterwards ; but although she was thus at sea while the coast was being swept by the late severe southerly storm, her crew report that they experienced comparatively little the gale until they neared the land.
1868
The boisterous and unsettled state of the weather since the New Year has had corresponding influence upon the prosecution of the fishing. On such occasions, however, as the boats have reached the fishing ground, fair returns, as a whole, have been obtained for the season. Seldom, indeed, in recent years has the haddock fishing been carried with so much success at this date as on Monday. One Cellardyke crew landed as many 201 dozens, while several, others had from 150 to 200 dozens. The fishing ground which has been principally resorted to since the year began is about three hours’ sail from and with the Island of May bearing in north and by west direction ; but in the fall the year it was much nearer, being within the “reefs,” as the banks lying about six or seven leagues from the May are called by our fishermen. It is interesting fact, as showing the migratory habits of the haddock, that the close of the summer herring fishing no fish were to be had where they are now so plentiful. Looking back at the haddock fishing of the present season and comparing it with recent years, we find in the result a complete refutation of that common subject of alarm the over-fished theory, or that our coasts once rich in “finny” treasures are erelong destined to exhaustion. The experience of this season, however, is an emphatic contradiction of this gloomy opinion, as a very productive haddock fishing has been made on ground which was supposed to have been ” harried” some twenty years ago.
The remarkable rate of settled weather which was enjoyed in the late autumn was of course equally beneficial for sea and land. It has enabled the fishing to be followed with a regularity rarely possible on this coast, as an instance of which it may be stated that the number of trips made by the Cellardyke deep sea-going fleet since the Lammas fishing will average about forty, while last year it only reached to some twenty-seven times. … With railways extending everywhere, it was fondly hoped that the price of fish would be maintained; but in the course of the last three or four months our fishermen have had to sell the largest and finest haddocks at 10d or 1s per dozen —the average price for the season not being more than 1s 1d per dozen. Thus it is that the clear earnings of the fishermen are fully one-third under the season’s average, and this is the case, it ought to be recollected, when all the common necessaries of life are so much increased in cost. …. the Cellardyke men are likely to remain at the haddock fishing for a week or so longer, or until the prospects of the herring fishing improve.
1869
Owing the succession of heavy winds from various quarters, the white fishing this coast has been almost an entire blank during the present week. This enforced leisure, however, has not been idly spent by our fishermen, who have been busy making ready their nets, and completing preparations for the herring fishing, which will shortly be the great work of the season!
This season our local fleet has been increased by the arrival of three Findochty boats, which are to fish at Anstruther during the herring season. These boats reached Anstruther in the course of last week and some curiosity has been felt about their peculiar model, which is that of the well-known Buckie boats. They are decked all over, but, notwithstanding this provision, the crews prefer to lodge on shore. Some years ago, two or three north-country boats resorted here at this season, but their poor success led to the venture being given up. What however, may be considered more interesting than the arrival of these strangers, is the settlement in Cellardyke of a crew of fishermen from Sunderland. Their boat with the household effects on board, reached Cellardyke on Thursday.
After being detained on shore for most the week, the boats ventured to sea on Friday, when they met with a degree of success quite unprecedented in this quarter. With very few exceptions the takes of haddocks ranged from one ton upwards. In the case of one crew, that Mr James Smith (Fowler), the take actually weighed 39 cwt., which, we believe, is the largest shot haddocks ever landed in Anstruther or Cellardyke. It is estimated that over 50 tons of fish were landed by the deep-sea going boats from Cellardyke on Saturday last. The fish were first-class quality, and sold at the ruling price of per 10s cwt.