1870
Trade.—Consequent on the failure the fishing, trade is exceedingly dull here just now, while the prospects of any improvement are rendered less by nearly thirty of our boats going to the fishing on the English coast. This will take away about 200 of the fishermen, and will make a great difference to the trade of the district. It would be great matter if someone with the requisite capital could start some other branch of trade in the place, and make people more independent of the fishing. As it is, the failure of the fishing causes very great distress among the inhabitants.
The little encouragement met with in recent years at the white fishing has induced the fishermen of the East of Fife to turn their attention to the herring fishery on the Yarmouth coast,, and as many as twenty-eight Cellardyke boats, with a crew of six or seven men each, and ten or twelve St Monance boats, will start in the beginning of the week for the south, where they remain until about Christmas. Several of the east coast men are also leaving for the Clyde, while others are willing to but after the comparative failure of the herring venture last year, others hold back until more is of the prospects of the season. These departures have had the effect of reducing the white fishing fleet far below what it has been for years past. Instead, therefore, of over forty, there will be only twenty-six boats from Cellardyke this winter. At St Monance the falling off is still more marked as regards the line fishing,, in which scarcely half-a-dozen yawls are occasionally engaged, owing to the great extent to which trawling is now prosecuted from that place. In favourable weather as many twenty-six boats are so employed the bays of St Andrews and Largo. In this fishing no expense is, of course, incurred for bait, but even with this advantage the success of the trawler is very, precarious, and all the more so in the present low prices, which are currently 5s a piece for turbot. 1s 6d each for brills, 2s a dozen for rock, and 4s 6d a basketful for ‘plaice’ flounders. A few crews have begun the white fishing, but the trial not be general on the coast until the beginning of the week.
1871
Grand Demonstration of Good Templars.—The first of what promises to be an exceedingly enthusiastic and stirring series of district temperance demonstrations was celebrated on Saturday evening. Tradition lives to tell that when the brave old chief, Lord Henry, rode away from his castle of Anstruther as a “Red Cross Knight” to redeem the Holy Sepulchre, the wives and mothers of the little sea town rejoiced as on a bridal day ; that their husbands and sons were in his train for Palestine. And something of the ancient spirit would appear to be kindling in the hearts of the people for this new crusade, as you hear of thirty or forty recruits pouring into a Lodge a single night. The fishermen and their wives are especially in love with the “mystic tie;” indeed, whatever strength or influence the Templar mission can boast in this quarter, is great measure drawn from the sons and daughters of St Peter. Thus it was that nearly all Cellardyke turned out to look on with friendly interest and pride as the members of the ” Guiding Star” Lodge gathered on Saturday night at the Town Hall there, where each and all having taken their places in the procession as assigned by Marshal William Stewart, they started with banners flying to join the sister Lodges Pittenweem and St Monance. It was an interesting sight truly to see these stalwart fishers and their wives and sisters, marching through the streets, all clad in holiday attire, and looking so cheerful and happy; and even those who had little sympathy for their principles had a favourable word for the little army which, in the same excellent order, entered Pittenweem, when, turning down the shore the Abbey Wall, they were reinforced by the ” Star of Peace” Lodge of that town. Turning again to the highway, the animated party merrily continued their walk towards St Monance, but almost half way they were met by a deputation of the Lifeboat Dodge, with flags and music, the inspiring strains of which, and with hundreds of spectators adding to the interest of the scene, they marched in splendid style to the Union Hall, which, large the building is, was soon crowded exclusively by Good Templars. After some new members had been admitted, public business was resumed Mr John Lockie, the Deputy District Chief, being called to the chair, who called upon the members of the several Lodges to address the meeting, when Brother William Stewart, of Cellardyke, rose and gave his own experience of the evils of drinking, as when he himself would go on Sunday morning to Pittenweem for drink, and come home ” reeling fou,” and with much native force contrasted this unhallowed and unchristian cause with the genuine blessings which flowed from the profession and practice of temperance. He was followed Brother Alexander Gay, of Pittenweem, and Brother Leslie, of St Monance, when a paper having also the meantime been read on the evils of scandal, the business was wound up by an eloquent address from the venerable father of St Monance, Mr Robert Lindsay, and also by some appropriate remarks from the worthy Chairman, when the large and happy gathering dispersed for their respective homes. On the occasion there were about 100 Good Templars present—upwards of 70 being from Cellardyke, and about half of that number from Pittenweem.
Assault.—At the Burgh Court of Kilrenny on Saturday—Provost Martin and Bailie Sharp on the bench—Robert Murray, boat skipper, was charged with committing an assault upon a lad named George Henderson, an apprentice baker with Mr James Morris, on the 14th July last. The panel pleaded not guilty, when evidence was led great length for and against the charge. The statements of the witnesses were of most conflicting character, but the Magistrates found the indictment proven, and imposed a sentence of 7s 6d. The reasons, however, which induced the bench to take such a lenient view of the offence, were seemingly in the opinion of the crowded court-room full proof of the skipper’s innocence, and his conviction was followed clamorous cry “it’s no justice, it’s no justice,” but the Provost at once suppressed the popular outbreak. William Murray, fisherman, the son of the former panel, was then placed at the bar under a similar charge. He also pleaded not guilty, when witnesses were likewise called for the prosecution and defence. One of the latter swore that she saw Henderson knock down the panel, who did nothing return; but the bench sustained the plea of the Fiscal, and sentenced the panel to the same mitigated penalty of 7s 6d.
A Fishing Boat for a Crown.—Now that the herring fishing has come to be prosecuted on the deep sea banks—twenty or thirty miles from land—the boats which were once in so much favour for the inshore waters of the Forth have become unserviceable, and consequently of little or no value to our fishermen. Every season these small boats are sold to other stations or broken down for firewood; but a curious instance of their deteriorated value occurred here on Saturday last, when the ” Brilliant,” belonging to David Donaldson, shoemaker, was exposed for 5s; but notwithstanding the temptingly low figure, and all Bailie Bonthron’s eloquence, no purchaser could be found. Though about thirty-three years old, this hull was in fair repair, and could be employed for several seasons, provided there was any encouragement in the Forth. This boat was long one of the crack clippers of the deep-sea-going fleet of Cellardyke, though only about thirty-three feet in length ; but the far seas of the present day, like the foreign voyages of our sailors, demand a more powerful class of craft, and so white fishing-boat, much under forty-five feet, would now be considered behind the age.
Extensive Exposure and Sale of Property.— The close of the sea harvest is by immemorial usage the great market time of the fisher year, house property being no exception to the well-established rule. Accordingly, there were offered for public sale, in the Town Hall, on Saturday, fewer than seven subjects belonging to different proprietors, The first was the large old tenement, with fine garden, possessed by Mr James Gardiner, which, after a spirited competition between Mr David Corstorphine and Mr Alex. Wallace, mason, was knocked down to the latter, for behoof of a building company of fishermen, for £230. The next was a vacant site, also at the Braehead, which was knocked down to Mr Wm. Brown, sculptor and builder, for £16. The third and fourth were an old two-storied house and a byre, fitted up and occupied some time ago as a Young Men’s Reading- Room and Library ; but though both were offered at the reduced price of £125, no offers were received. The fifth property was the house so long occupied by the late John Reekie, which was purchased Mr James Morris, builder, Anstruther, for £145. The others were the two fine new houses which complete Dove Street, but though offered at the moderate price of £250 each, there were no offerers. There was a considerable attendance, and the result seemed to excite much public interest. On the previous Saturday two houses were offered for public sale by the Experience Investment Society; but though only erected a few years ago by a sanguine boat carpenter, who anticipated a golden harvest from the speculation, they, as on several former occasions, have continued the hands of the Building Society, without any prospect of a sale, notwithstanding the repented reductions of the upset price. Within the last fifteen years new houses, without taking into account those rebuilt, have been erected in Cellardyke to accommodate upwards of one hundred families; yet so rapid has been the progress of the town, that the supply has fallen short rather than exceeded the demand for houses, though in the great outlay required for fishing gear, our fishermen are in the meantime held back from investing in house property.
Ann Davidson, domestic servant, residing in Cellardyke, was charged with committing a breach of the peace in Rodger Street between ten and twelve o’clock on the evening of Saturday the 9th inst., by conducting herself in a riotous and disorderly manner, and when solicited to go home refusing to do so. The panel, who was crying during the whole time she was in court, pled guilty and was sentenced to pay a fine of or suffer five days imprisonment.
Attempt to Rescue a Prisoner.—David Elder, labourer, residing in Cellardyke, was charged with attempting to rescue Ann Davidson, who was being taken to the police office by Police Constable Mackay. In answer to Provost Todd, the constable said Elder had seized hold of the woman Davidson, and would not let her go until the assistance of two special constables was obtained. The panel pled guilty to the charge, and after receiving a reprimand from the bench, was dismissed.
Newry Telegraph
Herring Fishery at Kilkeel
The importance of the deep sea herring fishery off the coast of county Down especially opposite the shore of Mourne, was, until very recently, comparatively unknown. Previous to the year 1864 the principle stations to which the fishermen from this country were obliged to resort for employment were the Isle of Man, Cellardyke and other places on the East Coast of Scotland, there being no Harbour in Kilkeel…….