Interesting to read Crail’s hope that the railway would attract more boats to the port. the last report also shows how dangerous the fishing could be, even once the boat was home and landed in the sad case of Walter Peat.
1880
The fishing may now be regarded at a close for the season. Our district boats have fully participated in the success of the north, and, the opinion of some who are presumably authority on the point, the average is more than £200 a boat—rising in some cases to nearly £500 – being a measure of prosperity altogether new in the annals of the coast. The deep sea banks in the offing of the Forth have yielded well, but in the estuary itself the season has been again a barren one, owing, as the old fishers do not hesitate to say, to the steam trawlers who nightly sweep the old familiar track of the herrings. When, notwithstanding the large delivery from the deep sea, the total catch is scarcely better than the half of last year, the heaviest take at Anstruther being the magnificent haul of hundred and sixteen crans, which were landed at the end of last week the Cellardyke boat Catherine Edie, the price being 11s a cran. The last of the fleet are expected to arrive on about Saturday, the contracts then come to end. It invites notice, showing the general embarrassment of the trade, that not a few of our crews are only receiving a payment to account till sales are effected or returns come in from the Baltic ports. As a rule, however, the halfdealsmen are being settled with in full, and many a son of toil is hastening homeward with from £20 to £30 for the work of the season.
(The following report may have been the Catherine Eddy in the previous report as 11s a cran was a poor return)
About a week ago, on a foggy morning, the coastguard at Crail was turned out on account of a Cellardyke boat, heavily laden with fish, which had missed its way and was supposed to be in danger among the rocks off Crail Links, in consequence of a heavy ocean swell. When the fog lifted, the heavy fishing boat could be seen for hours toiling up to the port, four miles distant, there to land her ninety or a hundred crane in the afternoon, which might more easily have been put ashore at Crail at eleven o’clock. A few hours saved on such a day, and at such a season, might have been worth pounds to a lucky fisherman, and certainly an important advantage of the proposed railway will be that if the port of Crail is used, or the old harbour at Kingsbarns can be dredged and made available, fish will be landed much quicker and will reach the markets a great deal sooner than they can possibly do from other ports which are at present largely frequented by fishing vessels.
Wintering the Big Boats – The early days of September, now that the great sea errand is over, being actively devoted to laying aside the big boats on beach and green. Formed into club and club, that is, into relays of thirteen or fourteen, the big boats with so many skippers and their mates to assist in the operation, are being hoisted by the giant thumb of the hydraulic press, on to the boat carriage to which the iron horse, in the shape of one of Mr Gilchrist’s traction engines, is standing ready to be harnessed when the stately craft that but yesterday was ploughing the breezy North Sea, wheels like a child’s plaything up the strand of Cellardyke, and along the shore to the destined berth at the “Brae foot,” where about a hundred herring boats have been laid, while the hardy fisher scarce need to lift a finger, so much has steam taken off his shoulders what doubtless the most weary and toilsome Within of other years. The fee for steam is arranged at twelve shillings a-boat, the number being this season increased at least two fold by the prohibitive rate in the new Act for Anstruther harbour, precisely inserted to meet the complaint about idle boats being kept over the winter in the old basin, instead of being heeled up out of the way on some convenient green. The hydraulic press is a late but notable improvement; for like the good fairies you read of in old Scottish story, the little engine has only to be inserted below bilge or keel to achieve in a trice, what bone and muscle were often all but unequal to perform. St Monans beach, we may remark, is no less interesting at the end of the drave; but at Pittenweem the work is considerably economised by the famous old coal depot being now used like the once busy ship-building yard at Anstruther for wintering boats.
1881
On Wednesday night a company of five fishermen, belonging to Tongue and Orkney, landed at Granton from Cellardyke by the Granton and Burntisland ferryboat. One of them, named Colin McKay being the worse of liquor, was taken in charge by the Granton police, and yesterday morning, when he had become sober, he found he had lost the whole of his money, to the amount of £9. Suspicion falling on one his comrades, named Donald McKay he was apprehended by the Granton police. On being questioned, he denied all knowledge of the matter, but on being searched the whole of the money alleged to belong to Colin was found in his stocking. He will be brought before the Sheriff to-day. The whole party were in company to take passage for home from Leith by the North of Scotland Company’s boat.
The Norwegian brigantine Marie, wrecked the other day Cellardyke, was sold on the strand on Monday. So total was the loss that so much of the old hulk that held together sold for fifty-five shillings. There was good demand, however, for the sails and cordage.
BOOTS BOOTS BOOTS
ROBERT GRAY has OPENED that New Shop, at No. 3 Shore Street, Cellardyke, with a large and varied Stock of BOOTS and SHOES, such as will give every satisfaction to the Public in fit and wear. R G. begs to thank the Public of Cellardyke and surrounding district for the past support he has received during the past two years, and still hopes, by strict attention to all orders entrusted to him, to merit a share of public patronage.
1882
SALE OF HOUSEHOLD FURNITURE, &c., AT CELLARDYKE
To be SOLD by Public Roup, on THURSDAY, 21st September current, in the House, Cellardyke, lately occupied by the deceased Mrs Davidson,
A Quantity of Excellent PARLOUR and BEDROOM FURNITURE, and KITCHEN UTENSILS, &c., comprising Mahogany, Birch, and other Tables, Mahogany and Rosewood Sofas, Mahogany Chiffoniers, Mahogany and Eight-day Clock, and American Thirty-hours Do., Feather Bed, Paillasses, Mattresses, Basin Stand and Ware, Kitchen Dresser, Bachelor’s Oven, Coal Scuttles, Pitchers, Kettles, Crockery, Fenders, Fire-irons, Floor-cloths, Pictures, Books, &c.
Also
PATENT MANGLE (almost new), “Star” WASHING MACHINE, Large WEIGHING BEAM, Sash Weights, Axes, Saw, &c., also 6 feet Window Pole complete, Water Barrel,
Roup to commence at 11 o’clock Forenoon. Mr BONTHRON, Auctioneer.
1883
Fifeshire Fisherman Drowned at Peterhead
About half past one o’ clock on Friday Morning, Walter Peat (29) belonging to Cellardyke, master of the herring boat Summer Breeze (KY2030) was drowned at the entrance of the south harbour, Peterhead. The boat had come in late with a heavy shot of herrings, which the crew had discharged at the lighthouse jetty. Peat was leaning over the gunwale of the boat, when he over balanced himself and fell into the tide. At this time a strong current was running out into the bay, and the unfortunate man was carried away before assistance could be given. His body has not been recovered. He leaves a widow and family, who reside meantime in Peterhead.
a few days later
Interment of the Unfortunate Cellardyke Skipper- The body of Skipper Walter Peat of the Cellardyke boat “Summer Breeze.” was recovered on Friday evening in Peterhead harbour, not far from the spot where he so unhappily perished just eight days before. The boat, in the meantime, had sailed for Fife; but sympathising neighbours were ready to see to the last sad offices for the dead, when the coffin was taken on board the Pittenweem boat “Summer Cloud”—David Black, master which arrived there after a somewhat boisterous passage on Sabbath forenoon. Soon after a little procession was on its way with the melancholy burthen to the house mourning in Rodger Street, Cellardyke.
I can remember the sink mounted mangle which clamped onto two metal brackets between the deep washing and smaller dishes sink. We used to get placed sitting between and holding onto for dear life those brackets when our knees were scrubbed raw when dirty which was nightly sadly.
The Mr [Andrew] Gilchrist who introduced steam haulage for the fishing boats was my great, great, great grandfather. He was a pioneer farmer (at Carvenom and Balhouffie) and seems to have instigated a longline of engineers in the subsequent family.