1805
The Duck club of Cupar, Fife, have subscribed five guineas to the wives and families of the men who were unfortunately lost off Cellardyke; and example worthy of imitation.
1829
On Saturday morning last, a Cellardyke boat caught, with only a net or two, about eight dozen of fine herrings near the Island of May. And from the quantity of herring whales, as the fishermen call them, that are presently on the coast, there is little doubt but there are also plenty of herrings, It is a matter of regret that our respectable fish-curers do not engage a number of the boats to remain here instead of going’ to the north, as it is quite notorious that the fishing here has for these some years been lost for want of timely looking after
1831
The Commissioners for the fisheries lately granted £1200 to which the fishermen contributed £500 more to improve Cellardyke, or Kilrenny Harbour.
1837
I have reported on this accident for 3 years, this week the news reach the Irish Newspapers and was reported this way (the number of 20 was not the case)
On Saturday forenoon the herring-boat Johns of Cellardyke, John Sutherland, skipper, was wrecked whilst entering the little haven on the cast-side of the Isle of May, when no fewer than twenty-one individuals met watery grave. The circumstances, given to us by our correspondent at Dunbar, who was on the spot shortly after the sad accident happened as follows:—It is customary at this season of the year, and before the boats leave the various towns on the east-coast of Fife, for the herring fishery in the north, to visit the May Island on pleasure excursion. On the morning in question, a party, to the amount of between seventy and eighty consisting men, women, and children, embarked in the Johns, and after having coasted round the west and south side of the Island, in attempting to take the little harbour for the purpose of landing, the boat from the heaviness of the swell, and narrowness of the passage, was thrown upon a rock, and the wave receding, she fell over, filled, and went down. Numbers who were nearly exhausted, were carried to the apartments of the light keeper, where, by the attention and care of the inmates which deserves great commendation, they all recovered. The survivors, with the corpses found up to the time our informant left, ware conveyed in other boats to Cellardyke, where another scene of distress would take place over which humanity must drop a tear.
1840 (although this was June 13th It was not published in the Derry Journal until July 14th)
Cellardyke. June 13.—A large shoal of herrings has been discovered between the Bell Rock and Isle of May, and the boats which have been fishing for them near the latter island have been uncommonly successful, considering the mode of fishing adopted. One boat came today with 1,000, another with 600, and a third with 400 herrings—caught upon hooks, or jiggers, as they are called. Fishing with the net will be commenced next month and, from the number of whales and sea-fowl seen at the Eastward of the May, heavy fishing is looked forward to, at no distant day
1842
A few Cellardyke boats arrived here on the 12th inst., and, since that time, others are daily coming in from the Friths of Forth and Moray. By the first of next week, general gathering will have been made,- when it is expected they will outnumber that last year considerably. Highlandmen are appearing in bands, for the purpose of hiring; and the whole place will soon assume the usual animated appearance common to this season at Wick.
A Cellardyke boat, commanded by Alex Pratt, brought on shore the highest take yesterday morning, and the skipper was led to believe that he was entitled to the highest premium awarded by the Chamber of Commerce here; but, on inquiry, found it was reserved for native crews alone, who bring the first five crans ashore prior to the 16th of July. The Chamber, by this arrangement, save their money and their honour, for is rarely carried off by native crews; and, were it not for the spur given by the arrival of strangers, our Wick fishermen would, at that date, be only talking of making a trial. If the Chamber of Commerce be desirous to encourage early fishing, they should offer their premiums indiscriminately. Competition at all times is found to be the best stimulant to exertion.
1844
On Wednesday night last week, the “Benledi” Steamer on her way from Dundee to Granton, ran down a fishing yawl, off Cellardyke harbour. The yawl was lying at anchor and three boys were fishing in it, who stood and cried to those on board the steamer when they saw that she was coming right them. No notice of them was taken, however, and the steamer struck the boat cutting her right through. One of the boys got up on the paddles, and the other two were picked by the steamer’s boat. One of them a good deal bruised, having been struck by the paddles he supposes. It is very fortunate that nothing more serious occurred.