1900
Report of 1899 – The winter herring fishing yielded 15,775 crans, an increase of 10,662 over 1898, and was the best since 1892. The prices kept up fairly well, a new feature while tended to keep up prices being the curing of fish for the Russian markets, and as the returns were remunerative, it is likely the curing of the herring will be resorted to every year. The spring deep sea fishing met a fair measure of success, while at the “drave” at the north ports, exceptionally high prices were realised. Some of the Cellardyke boats had upwards of £600, none of the fleet were below £100, and the average was close on £200. The boats returned from the Scarborough, Lowestoft, and Yarmouth fishings on the last week of November, the season having proved to them to be the best on record. The average of the 25 crews engaged was fully £600, and this works out a gross total of £12,000. Assuming that the salesmen’s commission and expenses were £2000, this leaves the large sum of £10 000 brought from the south, and some of the crews received fully £100 per man. The result is already seen in orders for new boats of about 70 feet in length.
On Wednesday evening, Mr John Miller, postman, was presented in Cellardyke Town Hall with a gold watch and albert on the occasion of his leaving the district for Arbroath. The meeting was largely attended, and Provost Thomson presided. Treasurer Fortune, Councillors Melville and Black were on the platform. The Provost wished all present a very happy New Year. (Applause.) The purpose for which they were met was well known to them, and from the audience, which was very large considering the inclemency of the weather, it was evident that there was a distinctly hearty feeling over this presentation.
STATE OF CELLARDYKE HARBOUR.
CONFERENCE WITH MR ANSTRUTHER, M.P.
In the Town Hall, Cellardyke, on Friday evening. Mr Anstruther. M.P., held a conference with fishermen and others, and propounded a scheme to restore Cellardyke Harbour, washed down by a storm in October. 1898. Mr Anstruther said a rough estimate had made to the cost of rebuilding the south pier, involving the sum of £1200, and he proposed that, in order to raise that amount, fourteen skippers of boats should insure their lines to the extent of £100. The annual sum to met would be £87 or thereabouts. An income of £50 would be derived from laid-up boats during the winter, leaving £37 to be raised otherwise. Perhaps some of the other skippers might agree to become responsible for that amount. A discussion ensued over the scheme, and, while the majority of the fishermen present agreed as to the feasibility of utilising Cellardyke Harbour when restored as storage during the winter for laid-up boats, the financial proposal was left over for further consideration. Mr Anstruther, on the motion of Mr H. Watson, was accorded a hearty vote of thanks for the great interest he took in fishing questions and the industry.
WAUCHOPE’S DEATH LOST THE BATTLE J. J. Moir, writing from Camp Enslin on 14th Dec. to his parents Cellardyke, says: It was an awful sight. The bullets were like a shower of hail, and the shells were bursting all around us. God knows how I got clear, for I was in the thick of it. I felt the heat of a shell on my face. I never was so near being killed in all my life. There were bullets hitting all around me, and whistling over my head. I have been in few battles, but nothing like this, but thank God I got out of it all right. We would have beat them had our General not got killed. He was shot in three places. The troops seemed to get disheartened after that, and we got the word to retire. This is a very bad place to get water. I walked four miles that night after the battle to the river for a drink.
1901
FACE TO FACE WITH DEATH.
ANSTRUTHER FISHERMAN’S GOLDEN WEDDING. One those unique, happy gatherings took place in the house of Alex. Thomson, boatbuilder, Harbourhead, on Tuesday evening, when the guests were Mr and Mrs James Wilson, Shore Wynd, Cellardyke, the fiftieth anniversary of whose wedding was celebrated a manner reminiscent to the aged couple rejoicings when they twain became one. Rare health has been the portion of Mr and Mrs Wilson up till a week ago, when the roll of a treacherous stone gave Mr Wilson a heavy fall. He had scarcely known illness despite his 78 years, while Mrs Wilson at 70 is as fresh and vigorous as many wives not half her years. The home of their daughter, Mrs Thomson, was bright with the reunion of relatives and friends. Song and music filled up the evening, save at one interval, when the filial offering of a purse money and other gifts from kith and kin took the aged couple by storm. They were married by the Rev. Cutler, of Anstruther, and have been spared to see four children reach mature age. Round them sixteen grandchildren have gathered, and one tiny greatgrandchild represents the fourth generation.
Mr Wilson has had his full share the perils and vicissitudes of the sea. He was yet, as it were, serving his apprenticeship, when one, on great line trip he came face to face with death in the North Sea, an experience that even to-day, after the lapse of well-nigh sixty years, stands vivid in his mind’s eye. The lines had been cast. In a little the crew would have started to haul, when a wild nor’- easter came hurtling upon them. Not a man but grudged to yield the lines to the sport of the sea, but it was now a stern fight for life itself. Every reef was taut, and the boat ran gunwale under, when wave swept all before it. The boat trembled below their feet. To them the last moment seemed at hand, when a ready knife cut loose the foresail, and, eased from the pressure, the boat rose, and the crew regained control. In those days the 70-feet keel steam gear was unthought-of. Wick, Helmsdale Peterhead were frequented in 35-feet boats, with open decks. Mr Wilson had his own share of the vicissitudes of the life. His boat was often the king fisher the fleet, but the sport the life found him again as often with a fight to meet expenses. He has seen a fair part of the world, taking several voyages, and working for couple years on the Australian coast. He is now retired, and it is hoped will soon shake off the effects of his recent fall, and be spared to enjoy for years come the companionship that has now lasted over half a century.
CELLARDYKE THE SINGING COMPETITION. —The proposed singing competition, to be held in Anstruther Town Hall, is promising to be a decided success. Already a large number of names have been received from Glasgow, Arbroath, Tillicoultry, and various other Places.
1902
A Committee of Cellardyke and Pittenweem fishermen visited their St Monans brethren on Saturday night to confer with them as to the advisability of starting a Fishermen’s Boat Insurance Society for the district. There was a large attendance of skippers and boat owners, and Mr James Mackay was called to the chair, and he was accompanied to the platform by the deputation from Cellardyke and Pittenweem. The Chairman explained in a happy speech, the object of the meeting, and stated that they had assembled to have a friendly talk over the object they had in view.
1903
The Past year
The good fishing of the year increased the demand for larger boats, and the boat building yards have been extremely busy. Mr Miller and Mr Thomson at Anstruther built 9 new boats. At Pittenweem 6 boats were launched, while at St Monans 14 new crafts were constructed.
In building circles, the most noteworthy event has been the erection of an oilskin factory for the firm of Messrs Martin & Co., its destruction by fire and the rebuilding of the structure which is present being carried out. In addition to the above-noted, several cottages and villas have been added to Anstruther, both Easter and Wester; while in Cellardyke splendid premises have been erected for Mr Alexander C. Murray, grocer and wine merchant. Amidst the hurry and scurry of life in this fishing village, one sad event has happened, which for some time cast gloom over the community—viz., the loss in the month of September of the boat. The Brothers, and crew, on her return from the North fishing. Than Mr Watson, the skipper the boat, there was no one in the community held in higher respect.
Now that our friend 1902 has taken his departure, and we will next week be visited by large numbers from all quarters engaged in the catching and purchasing of our herrings, we can only wish our readers “A Good New Year,” trusting 1903 may be kind to us as a community its predecessor has been.
St Andrews town Council
FIRE ENGINE COMMITTEE. It was reported by this Committee that Messrs Cruickshank, Son, Co., Dundee, had objected to the account rendered for the services of the Fire Brigade at the recent fire of Messrs Martin & Co.’s premises in Cellardyke, and had suggested that the charge for the engine, £15 10s, should be restricted to the nominal sum of £1 1s. The Committee, while of the opinion that there was no good reason for dealing with the account in exceptional manner, had agreed to restrict the charge for the engine to £10 10s provided that sum and the other items of the account were paid without further objection.—Approved.
1904
FISHING BOAT, KY. 6, Julian Innes, for sale. No reasonable Offer refused. Apply W. WATSON.
ASKING BOAT TO BE REMOVED. The Clerk (Anstruther Harbour Commissioners) reported that the harbourmaster had asked him to write to a skipper in Cellardyke, asking that his boat, the Julian Innes, should be removed from the harbour, as it was not one of the compound boats, and the full number of weeks were up and the boat was still lying up. He wrote as desired, and received a reply from the skipper’s brother, who said that the state of his brother’s health had precluded him from giving effect to the notice of the Harbour Board requiring his boat to be removed. As the boat was at present for sale, and would likely be disposed of by the end of month, he asked leave to let the boat lie in the harbour until it was disposed of. It would be an expensive matter to get it removed to another harbour for such a short time, and he hoped the Commissioners would grant the request. Provost Black moved that the request be granted. The skipper of the boat was unwell, and in the sad circumstances of his case the request should be granted. Mr Melville seconded, and the motion was unanimously adopted.
Thomas Scott Deceased
As we have received instructions to forthwith collect all debts due to the representatives of the late Thomas Scott, General Merchant, 83 George Street, Cellardyke, we hereby intimate that same must be paid to us within three weeks of this date. Jamieson and Guthrie, Solicitors, Anstruther 5th Jan 1904