1860
Broughty Ferry.—Revival of Religion. —On Thursday night, a meeting was addressed in the Mission House, by Robert Browu and Thomas Cunningham, two fishermen from Cellardyke; and sketch of the progress of revival in that place was given, from which it appears, while the extraordinary excitement which obtained in the earlier months of this year has passed away, there remains ‘great friendliness, sobriety, and much prayer. Whereas in former years about £40 was spent on strong drink, when the herring boats were hauled up,” this year the money has been laid aside, forming a fund to meet some future emergency. The Rev. Mr Lamont opened and closed the meeting with devotional exercises, and i i a very earnest and patient manner exhorted the audience to give heed to the statements and exhortations which they had heard.
1861
CELLARDYKE. Fancy Bazaar – on Saturday the town of Cellardyke was much enlivened by an occurrence, which is somewhat rare in that quarter. Sometime ago a hall, in connection with the Free Church, Anstruther, was built at the east end of the town of Cellardyke for the purpose of holding religious meetings, Sabbath schools, &c., and for the accommodation of the fishermen and others of that place, the expense of which was not altogether paid. To make up the required sum, a bazaar, under the patronage of some of the most influential ladies, came off with much eclat in the Free Church Hall Saturday. The number of articles for sale were very great, and some, indeed, very beautiful, and as is generally the case, the entreaties and demands the ladies, who were stall-keepers, commanded plenty of purchasers. The number of visitors was also very great, there being a continual out and in-pouring the whole day. The various contributors deserve great credit for their able services. The sum realised the affair was, we believe, £140.
1862
Close of the Herring Fishing.—On Monday evening, about forty of the boats fishing here proceeded sea, but so discouraging was the result that trial was made on the following night. The fishing may consequently be regarded as having terminated for the season, for, although few crews will probably continue its prosecution a week or two longer, the great majority have abandoned it altogether. The halfdealsmen have generally taken their departure for their homes, or for other employment, and the fishermen are busily engaged in the beaching and dismantling of their boats. The curers have also begun to store past their stock, and the large piles of barrels with which the stations have been covered for several weeks past, are now fast disappearing. The total quantity landed during the season is estimated at about 14,000 crans, which is deficiency of about two thousand crans, compared with last year, which was also an unproductive season. In former failures, stormy and unsettled weather was generally regarded as the cause of the shortcoming but this season has been remarkably favourable, and with the exception of one evening, the fleet have never been prevented from proceeding to sea. The prospects were also very flattering, and the fishermen were hopeful success; but only one instance, that of the “Old Haikes,” has any large shoal of herrings appeared upon the coast. Prices are also considerably below that of last year, owing to nearly half of the whole quantity having been landed one day from the above-named fishing ground. In Cellardyke, several crews have been so fortunate as to complete their complement of 200 crans, and many are comparatively well fished. Although not so numerous, however, this respect as in Pittenweem or St Monance, there are a few who have scarcely realised much as will defray the expenses incurred during the fishing.
Concert.—On Saturday evening last, a concert of vocal and instrumental music was given in the Anstruther Town Hall by the St Andrews Coloured Minstrels. The several pieces of the interesting “bill of fare,” chiefly composed popular negro melodies in character, were performed in excellent style, and elicited the hearty approbation of the large and gratified audience.
1863
Alexander Anderson and James Scott, carters from Cellardyke, and James Robertson, a carter from Anstruther, were placed at the bar, charged with assault and breach of the peace. Anderson pled guilty to the assault, but not to the breach of the peace. Robertson and Scott pled not guilty, but after evidence had been led by the Fiscal, the Sheriff found the breach of the pence proven against the whole three, and sentenced Anderson to pay a fine of L.2, or suffer 30 days’ imprisonment, and Robertson and Scott to pay a fine of L.l each, or suffer 15 days’ imprisonment each.
The herring fishing may now regarded as having been concluded on this coast for the season. A few crews purposed making trial in the beginning of the week, but a strong gale of westerly wind detained them in the harbour. The fishing, Which has thus terminated, has proved the least productive for the last years when the number of boats are taken into account, the total quantity landed here and Cellardyke only amounting to 6300 crans, and for the district extending from Buckhaven to St Andrews it computed little more than 12,000. For the two preceding seasons which were also considered very unproductive, it amounted to 14,000 and 16,000 respectively, while in 1860 it reached as high as 38,000 for this station alone. The Cellardyke fishermen are this season again comparatively better fishers than those of Pittenweem and St Monance……the only productive fishing-ground has been the “White Spat,” as the Murray Bank is locally termed; but its great distance from the Firth induced most of the boats to land their takes at Montrose or neighbouring ports. Notwithstanding the very encouraging prospects in the beginning of the year, no shoal of any magnitude appears to have frequented any the usual haunts the Forth. Various and conflicting opinions are hazarded in the locality accounting for this, but so little is realty known of the herring and its habits, that nothing definite can be said upon the matter. Many, indeed, ascribe the shortcoming exhaustion consequent on overfishing or to the spawn having injured by trawlers; the other hand, however, is well known that the herrings have frequently deserted the coast for years together when these causes were not existence.. Fully two-thirds of quantity landed here have been despatched in fresh state to market, or manufactured into bloaters. Little over 1000 barrels have been branded the district, and these, with the greater part of the pickled fish, have already been sent to the continental markets.
About 30 coopers belonging to the town were discharged last Saturday, and nearly as many had notice that their services would not be required after this week.