1890
At Cellardyke Burgh Court yesterday a young boy named James Moncrieff pleaded guilty to stealing turnips from field on Kilrenny Mill farm. It being stated that he had taken the turnips at the instance older boys he was let off with an admonition. Two other boys were found guilty of maliciously uprooting and destroying a quantity of turnips in field on Kilrenny Mill farm. The case was continued until the 29th, to ascertain what Reformatory could be got to take them. John Doig, fisherman, Shore Street, was fined 15s, or ten days’ imprisonment for assaulting another fisherman, and James Cairns, farmer, 10s, or seven days, for assaulting one of his farm servants on the 11th inst.
1891
Fifeshire fishermen are evidently agitated over the question of salmon fishing at sea. The matter was referred to by Mr Anstruther M P., last night at Cellardyke. It seems that large numbers salmon have been attracted by the electric-light in the vicinity of the May Island, and the point is to whom do the fish belong. One speaker last night pointed out that fishermen may be allowed to catch salmon, but they are not allowed land them. The Fishery Board have taken up the matter, and the question is to considered at meeting on 29th inst. Clearly the fishermen have a good case.
A terrific gale from the south-east raged in the East of Fife during Sunday night and yesterday morning. It was accompanied by heavy rains, and as a great deal of grain is lying is the fields the damage done is considerable. The sea in the Firth of Forth opposite Anstruther was most tempestuous, the waves running very high; and as the night tide was the highest during the season, property on the sea shore suffered very severely. In Cellardyke the fishermen’s outhouses and stores for keeping their gear were washed down in more than half a dozen instances and the nets .and lines carried away, while a garden wall in James Street next to the sea was torn down. The south roof of the Cellardyke Net Factory, owned by Black & Co., was stripped off and the factory was flooded. The fishermen also throughout the night were looking after their boats, some of which drifted from their moorings.
1892
“We no’ gaun south th’ year,” sang the halflin, accompanying it by forcible gesticulation, at the corner on Saturday night. In many instances this was the decision of the skippers, and it was hailed with joy by the rest of the crew. But the question of the wife. “What are ye gaun tae dae ?? a’ oor lines are useless “ caused the decision to be reconsidered, and thus the original fleet is about doubled, but the number is far short of that which sailed last year. Eighteen Cellardyke boats, with as many from Pittenweem and St Monance take up their station at Scarborough for the next four weeks, and they have already sailed. The crews who returned to Peterhead did little or nothing, although for that week an average of 20 crans per week is reported for the 200 engaged. Fully 70 boats are drawn up abreast the Folly, and the composition rate is working well. The only trouble so far was where the skipper intending to sell his boat and receiving offers delayed payment, when, of course, full dues were charged. By the Board’s agreeing to return the balance if the craft is not sold before the weekly rate mounts up to £2, i.e. — the sum of the composition — rate this will be averted, and no reason for delaying payment could then be found. A few boats were hauled up on the Green and the beach at Cellardyke and others taken to Leven. The port promises to be well supplied from liners, as it is said another Cellardyke skipper has arranged to hire one from Aberdeen. This makes a fleet of six steam vessels. The Anster Fair, the latest of the local companies’ boats, returned from Leith on Tuesday equipped with her engines. While rounding the point she ran into the West Pier, and again struck on the East Pier. The sound was heard some distance off. The iron down the stem was displaced, and it is rumoured the engines shifted, but nevertheless she left with the same tide for ballast at Fidra Island. Amongst the crowd on the pier the act of allowing a carpenter to bring her down when so many practical men — and, indeed, pilots — could be had caused some comment.
Five- and-twenty crews are busy with the outfit for Yarmouth and Lowestoft Further developments of the memorial for the deepening or improving of the harbour have taken place during the week. On Saturday Mr Mackintosh, the clerk to the Board, received a letter from Mr Stevenson, C.E., intimating that he would visit Anstruther Harbour for the purpose of taking a survey and making inquiry among the fishermen at the instigation of the Fishery Board. Provost Martin called a meeting at Cellardyke, when delegates were appointed by the fishermen to meet the engineer. On Tuesday Messrs John Carstairs, Alexander Watson, Thomas Tarvit, John and Robert Montadore, William Watson, Andrew Pratt, David Boyter, James Pratt and Charles Mair met him as arranged, and freely expressed their opinions. They were unanimous in asking that means should be taken to deepen the harbour, so that they might at least have six feet of water more than at present over the whole area, when they would be able to move to any part of the harbour whenever the tide floated them at the bar. The y also expressed the wish that a jetty be constructed in the old harbour, running out from the Folly Wall, to be used as a fish quay. Mr Mair, the fishery officer, was also interviewed, but his idea that the jetty be constructed on the east side of the middle pier was not favoured by the fishermen, owing to the impediment it would be when boats were making the harbour in certain winds. It will be some weeks before the decision of the Fishery Board is announced.
1893
A two days’ sale of work in Anstruther to clear off a debt of £350 on Cellardyke Parish Church has realised £393.
1894
Between six and seven o’clock on Wednesday evening information was conveyed to the police that the body of a man bad been observed by some fishermen floating in the sea to the east of Dysart. The coastguard had the body at once brought ashore and conveyed to the mortuary. It appeared to be that of a fisherman, about 30 years of age and bore evidence of having been in the water for some time. On Thursday morning the body was identified as that of Thomas Pringle, fisherman, 31 years of age, and residing at Cellardyke. Deceased was washed overboard from his boat near Leven harbour, when he with others of the crew was preparing to berth his boat for the winter. Deceased, who was much respected, was to have been married on the day that lie was drowned.
1895
REMINISCENCES OF ’45 A correspondent of the Scotsman having recently suggested the desirability of gathering together—ere they passed entirely into oblivion whatever reminiscences of the famous rebellion of 1745 were still available, quite a number of contributors have come forward with their quota —all more or less illustrative that eventful time, round which, one of the writers says, “oral tradition lingers fondly to the fifth generation.” ……………Another of progenitors, says Mr Louthem, writes; —“My mother was about five years old when the rebellion broke out in 1745. She and the rest of the children were left at home with a servant on the Sabbath day, when the Highlanders marched through Cellardyke, bagpipes playing and drums beating. Their door was fast, for it was the custom even in my young days that, as soon as the family were gone to church at Kilrenny, the outer door was made fast. The ship’s dog being within showed its dislike this irregularity pipes and drums by howling and barking. One of the soldiers, provoked by his noise, stepped forward and struck the door with the butt end of his musket, which so frightened the children that they fell flat on the floor. My aunt Peggy, being older than my mother, recollected standing on Craignoon and hearing the guns firing when the battle of Prestonpans was fought.