Several launches – this was the absolute heyday of the large sailing fifies, 65-70ft. Our local boatbuilders, each yard, could launch one every 5 – 6 weeks and have it ready for the sea very shortly afterwards.
Cellardyke church devoting a whole memorial service to a late American President! I doubt if that would happen these days.
1903 was a very hard fought election campaign for our St Andrews Burghs MP and the Cellardyke fishermen were pivotal to the vote there were multiple meetings by both sides and the worry that many men would not be present during the vote.
The photo is of Alex Keay mentioned in 1901 – not a fisherman, but in the forefront of the development of steam herring fishing in the Uk managing a fleet of 12 vessels – It wasnt until about 5 years later that the steam drifter overtook the sailing vessel in popularity.
Alex had also been highly involved during search for the lost Bernicia in Feb 1900, organisaing the Fisheries cutter to go looking for her and some of the Aberdeen fleet.
1900
LILIAS SCOTT.—On Sept. 13 there was launched at St. Morning, from the building yard of Mr. James Miller. the first-class fishing boat built to the order of Messrs. John Gardiner and Sons. Cellardyke. She was named the Lilias Scott, by Miss Maggie Gardiner, a daughter of one of the owners. The boat is built of the best material, is 68 feet extreme length, and will be fitted up immediately with steam engine and other modern appliances so as to be available for all branches of the fishing. Her first trip will be to the herring fishing in England.
Sisters – There was launched from the building ground of Mr John Robertson at west pier on Monday afternoon, the first class fishing bust, built to the order of Mr John Wilson, Cellardyke. The launch took place at high water by means of a steam engine, and was successfully accomplished. As she was drawn from the quay into the harbour, she was named the Sisters by Miss Bella Wilson, a daughter of the owner. The craft is 68 feet extreme length and is a splendid model. She is to be fitted up immediately with steam engine and other modern appliances, and will be available for all branches of the fishing. As soon as she can be got ready Mr Wilson intends to proceed to the herring fishing at Yarmouth. Mr Robertson is to lay down another keel immediately for another first class boat to the order of Messrs Andrew Davidson and David Irvine, St Monans. She is to be 70 feet in length, and will be ready for the winter herring fishing.
1901
SUCCESSFUL HERRING DRIFTERS. The fleet of ten steam herring drifters belonging to the Smith Docks Trust Company, North Shields, which have been working the herring fishing at Shetland and subsequently at Fraserburgh and Aberdeen, and other east coast stations, under the management of Mr Alex. Keay, have had a fairly successful season for their 12 weeks’ business. The gross earnings of the ten steamers is £7300, or fully £7OO per boat, and only four nets have been lost the season. The steamer have been manned mostly by Yarmouth men, and as the shares go seven to the crew and nine to the owners, the wages of the fishermen must have been very good. Mr Keay, who is a native of Cellardyke, has high opinion of the quality of the steamers under his charge, and the Scottish fishermen who examined them are mostly of the opinion that the trust steamers are particularly well adapted for herring fishing.
A memorial service for the late President McKinely was held in Cellardyke Parish Church on Sunday afternoon. In the absence of the minister, the Rev. Mr Ray, the pulpit was occupied by the Rev. Mr Ewen, Dunino, who preacher an appropriate sermon from the words of David to Jonathan—’ There is but a step between me and death.’ After showing how appropriate the words were to the soldier on the battlefield, the sailor on the sea, and the miner in the mines (as in the case of the recent Donibristle disaster), the preacher said that the words of the text might well be applied to persons in high stations, instancing the recent attempts on various personages so situated—some unsuccessful, and others, alas ! successful. Appropriate hymns were sung including ‘ Nearer my God to thee.’ At the close of the service, the ‘Dead March’ was played by Miss Robina Oliphant on the organ, the whole congregation upstanding.
1902
The fishing boat Mary Caird, of Fisherrow (Robert Miller, master and owner), got fixed between the Lily Scott, of Cellardyke, and the Family’s Pride, of Berwick, during Saturday’s gale and was badly damaged. The accident occurred at North Sunderland, the (entrance to which was crowded with boats riding the gale. The logger’s sides were completely sprung, and the vessel rendered unseaworthy till extensive repairs are executed.
Launch of a fishing boat – on Wednesday afternoon, Mr Miller launched at high water, a new fishing boat to the order of Skipper Wm Watson (Boyter) Cellardyke. The boat is one of the largest size and is 68 feet in length with21 feet beam, and 9 ½ feet depth of hold. The launch was a very successful one, and the boat was named Gratitude. She is a fine model and the workmanship and material are of the very best. She is also fitted with Beccles steam capstan, and all the latest appliances and fittings. Her first voyage is to be to the Yarmouth fishing in a fortnight. Mr Miller is to lay the keel of another fishing boat 70 feet in length for an Arbroath Skipper.
1903
HE NUMBER OF FISHERMEN VOTERS. As considerably speculation has arisen to the number fisherman voters that will away before the polling day in the St Andrews Burghs on Thursday, it has been definitely ascertained that yesterday and to-day 13 Cellardyke boats left Anstruther Harbour for the south fishing at Scarborough with 90 voters, and to-morrow others are to sail, making altogether 130 fishermen voters, the great majority whom are said to Unionists.
FISHING BOATS SHELTER AT ANSTRUTHER. Owing to a heavy easterly gale the Cellardyke boats which were ready to start- for Lowestoft and Yarmouth fishings have been detained in the harbour since Monday morning. A number of Fraserburgh, Buckie, Peterhead, and Inverness boats have also been lying in the harbour since Monday, being obliged to run for shelter while on the voyage South.
At a recent Police Court held in Cellardyke, Michael Doig, Mitchell Pratt, and Alexander Gourlay, all fishermen, Cellardyke, were charged with contravening the provisions of the Education Acts. They all pled guilty. Evidence was led by Mr Henry Watson, procurator fiscal, from which it appears that the children had all made very bad attendances, while those of Doig and Gourlay had been taken by their fathers to the North fishing. In moving for sentence. Mr Watson stated that the School Board of Kilrenny were determined to put down the practice of allowing children to leave school before they were fourteen years of age. Bailie Williamson, who presided, fined each of accused 5s with 25s of modified expenses. It appears that the cases first came up in the in the month of June last when warrants were issued for the apprehension of accused. These were put into force as soon as the parents returned south.
1904
CELLARDYKE FISH HAWKER FINED AT ST ANDREWS. A CURIOUS CHARGE.
A case of a somewhat unusual character was heard before Bailies Ritchie and Todd at St Andrews Police Court on Monday. David Brown, fish hawker, James Street, Cellardyke, was charged with having on Saturday, 3rd September, in South Castle Street and in Market Street, while vending fish from a cart, shouted and called out in a loud voice, “Fresh herring,” so as to cause annoyance to Dr Paton, Castlemount, after being requested to cease, contrary to the Burgh Police (Scotland) Act. Accused pleaded not guilty, and was defended by Mr W, McBeth Robertson, solicitor. Dr Paton said he had had occasion to complain several times of people shouting “fresh herring” in the locality. On the morning of the day in question he could not get sleep on account of the shouting, and he had to change his bedroom, and was forced to telephone to the police. Throughout the summer there had been two tones of indistinguishable words, one in a higher and another in a lower tone. Cross-examined by Mr Robertson, Dr Paton said he did not hear the words “fresh herring”—the words were absolutely indistinguishable. He could not identify accused as having cried on the day in question, as he was not out of the house. There were other noises, he admitted, in St Andrews, but this noise was a new noise. He could sleep through the noise of a bell, but no one could sleep through the noise complained of.
Mr Robertson—Have you any objection to the cry of “Caller Herrin’!”
Dr Paton—l object to all street cries if they are offensive and noisy, and I object to bells or any noise. He had no ill will to the accused, but if this sort of thing was to go on there would be no end. He laughingly remarked that there was a new cry that morning. He heard a man calling potatoes. Constable Miller said accused was shouting in the usual way as cadgers shout.
The Clerk of Court—That is as hard as he could.
Constable McGregor spoke to having received several complaints front Dr Paton regarding shouting of that kind. Bailie Ritchie said the Bench found the charge proved. Those in St Andrews who had fish to sell did not bawl out in the street, but went from door to door, and there was therefore no necessity for shouting, which was certainly a very great nuisance in the town. They were anxious to put down this, and, as a warning, he was to impose a tine of 2s 6d, the option being three days in jail.
At a Police Court held in Cellardyke on Saturday, James Tarvit, Alexander Brown, and William Corstorphine, all fishermen, Cellardyke, were charged at the instance of Kilrenny School Board with failing to educate their children. Corstorphine pled guilty, and was fined 5s with of expenses. Tarvit and Brown pled not guilty, but after evidence had been led the charges were found proven, and each were fined 5s with 15s of expenses.
On Wednesday, a petition to the North British Railway Company was numerously signed in Anstruther and Cellardyke, relating to the train and mail arrangements of the East of Fife. The petition was as follows:—We, the undersigned solicitors, bankers, merchants, fishcurers, traders, and others, considering that the mail and passenger train service for nine months of the year on this branch of the North British Railway very unsatisfactory, owing to the hour of starting the morning train from Anstruther being too late to admit of its connecting with the north and south trains at Thornton, it is respectfully submitted that if the alterations suggested in the accompanying statement were adopted a very great boon would be conferred on this community.