The Cellardyke Echo – 25/8/2022 – Issue 353

1885

A casualty of a serious nature was reported at Aberdeen on Friday, in which it is feared seven lives have been lost. The boat 1480 KY., left Aberdeen on Wednesday afternoon for the fishing ground. She was last seen at sea when the gale sprang up by a boat belonging to Torry, and she was at that time very heavily fished. having upwards of ninety crans of herrings. She was then about sixty miles off the coast, and a neighbouring Torry boat relieved her by taking charge of four of her nets, it was then believed that she made for the port, but as no further accounts were heard of her, hopes for the safety of the craft were given up. On Saturday afternoon a water cask belonging to the ill-fated boat was picked by a Cellardyke boat. The boat had a crew of seven including a boy.

Anstruther –  It was on Tuesday evening that the largest quantify was brought in. No less than 35 boats, mostly belonging to Cellardyke, arrived with big shots. Which were readily purchased by the local curers, whose energies were taxed to the utmost to get them cured. The boats were all engaged, and had been prevented by the wind from going to the northern ports. With such heavy shots the prices naturally fell, and were as low as 5s per cran. The skipper of a boat with 50 or 60 crans declined to take the price, and sailed to St Monance. The 35 boats landed 986 crans.

T. THOMSON & SON, Boot and Shoe Manufacturers,

HAVE always a Largo Stock of BOOTS. SHOES, and SLIPPERS, At Very Low Prices.

Ploughmen’s Strong, Water-tight, Tacketty Boots from 9s 6d to 14s.

Gent’s, Lorne and Lacing Shoes from 6s 6d to 13s 64.

Ladies’ Boots, Shoes, and Slippers in the newest Styles.

Boys’ and Girls’ School and Dress Boots in great variety.

T. T. & Son have always a Large Stock of SEA BOOTS, KNEE BOOTS, WELLINGTONS, and BLUCHERS, at their Warehouses, 34 James Street, Cellardyke, AND 14 and 16 Shore Street, Anstruther. All Repairs done on the Shortest Notice. whether sold by us or not. Every inducement given for ready cash.

1886

The intelligence from the Cellardyke boats at Shetland shows that the fishing there has been very poor, and some of the crews have done little or nothing. One boat is stated to have taken only five crans for the season, while another has landed ten, and so on. There are a number that have done fairly well, but not what was anticipated. Several of the boats have now left Shetland for the north stations, where the fishing has been moderately successful.

CELLARDYKE. WATER SUPPLY – A special meeting of the Police Board was held on Friday evening to consider the complaint of Provost Skinner, in reference to the drain in course of construction at the Culdee burn. Alterations, he said, could not be avoided in the nature of the work; but scavenger Roes, who was in charge, refused to obey his (the Provost’s) orders: so that he wished the Board to relieve him of the duty which he had imposed upon himself in the absence from home of the rest of the committee. He also held it was bad policy, especially at a time like the present, when every care ought to be had of the public health, to take the scavenger away from his proper duties. As an instance in point, he referred to the filthy or unsatisfactory state of more than one part of the town. Bailie Martin declined to bear the complaint unless it was made in such a way as to allow the scavenger to be heard in his defence. Councillor Morris said that, if only from his experience Ross ought to be continued at the drain. After some further remarks in a like tone it was agreed to appoint Councillor Williamson inspector of the drain. Beyond all question, however, the most interesting episode of the night was in reference to the water supply. Bailie Martin, as convenor of the committee, reported that the arrangements were still in the same deadlock with the agents of Mr Irvine of Grangemuir. Councillor Sharp observed that to him the one way for Cellardyke, as well as for Anstruther, to escape from their present dilemma was to unite in a joint scheme to take the Lochty supply by way of a grand reservoir at Balmonth to the coast. That remark found an approving echo at more than one side of the table.

1887

In the course of the week no fewer than forty poor householders in Cellardyke had a ton of coals put down at their door by their townsman, Mr Peter Murray, now on a visit to the old home, Mr Murray, who is the son of the late Bailie Thomas Murray, emigrated some thirty years ago to Australia, where he has since developed one of the meet extensive stores in Williamston. “Whatever ye gie, gie weel “is an old Fife saving, and one that imparts special value to Mr Murray’s considerate gift.

1888

The Anstruther and Cellardyke Homing Pigeon Society flew a race from Glasgow. Distance 80 Miles, open to fanciers within 4 miles. 27 birds were liberated by the station-master, who wired. Birds up at 10.18 a.m. The first bird to arrive home was that of Robert. Fowler, Cellardyke. It winged the distance in 2 hours 37 mins. The following is the result: —1 R. A. Fowler, Cellardyke, velocity per min., 890 yds. ; 2 D. Gullan, Cellardyke, velocity, 891 yds. ; 3 J. Woodward, Pittenweem, velocity, yds. ; 4 D. Gullan, Cellardyke, velocity, 809 yds; 5  G. M. Black. Cellardyke, velocity, 804 yds 6 J. Lindsay, Pittenweem, velocity, 759 yds.

Peterhead – A football match under Association Rules was played on the Links, on Friday night between eleven of the Peterhead Rugby Football Club and a like number of the Bluejackets, Cellardyke, who are at present engaged in the herring fishing here. There was a large crowd of spectators chiefly composed of fishermen who evinced the liveliest interest in the game. At the very outset the Bluejackets proved themselves to be the superior club, and very early in the game secured a goal, which was followed by a second just before the end of the first half. On changing sides, however, the Peterhead men showed some dashing play, and repeatedly carried the ball into their opponents’ territory, but only managed to get the hall once between the posts. The game thus ended in a win for the fishermen by two goals to one. A return match will be played soon.

1889

THE FIFE BOATS AND THE HERRING FISHING.

“It’s use, there’s naething in the sea,’ growled the veteran as he left the pier on Thursday night. He was not alone, but there was another light the scene when the bulwark rang next day with the cry ” The herrin’s in the mill bay.” It appears that the little fleet, including the Expert, of Crail, the Reliance, of Cellardyke, &c., had been induced to set to in the kindly bit of sea known as “Kellie ower the kirks.” By and by the lint was siller white, so much so that the Reliance fished 13 crans with twelve nets, but the Expert had 24 with this number. Being gunwale deep the skipper gave the remainder of his drift, viz., seven nets, to the crew of the Helena, of Buckhaven, who drew 16 crans out of five, but the other two sank, as of old, with the multitude of fishes. How the garret was ransacked to east to west for net and raip, but the gale so rose that most of the yawls, if they shot at all, returned by midnight. In meantime the shoal shifted to the east. Maggie, of Newhaven fished 300 on Monday, but the Beaulah, of Crail, had 15 crans this night near the Hirst, but the weather has more or less interfered with the success of the week- Some fine hauls have also been, landed from the reefs. The same tale comes to from the north- The telegram was every lip how this and that crew had £100 at a shot, while scores who had shared in the toils and perils of the night “didna always see coin,” as they say at the Granary End. This was conspicuously the case at Aberdeen. It’s the lucky chiel that gets them,” says the old skipper as the Express crossed the bar with 90 per crans, worth as many guineas, and the Amanda as gunwale deep to sell at 19s per cran. The cry, “Eh, sic bonnie herrin’,” also drew quite a crowd round the tidy Dawn of Cellardyke. The telegrams from the Dee are in a hopeful tone about the chances of the “Bennie hie ground,” as the famous bank is called some three or four leagues to seaward of the river- The Fife boats were caught in the gale on the Buchan coast, but luckily one and all escaped to land. Several of the Aberdeen fleet, and others fishing at the white spat, also bore away to the fine shelter in the Forth. The old fishers are of opinion, from the porpoises playing about, that a considerable shoal is on this side of the Hirst. It was while fishing here that the eccentric old minister of Crail, Peter Glass, prayed one Sabbath that the herring net might be so blessed as to load the boats over the “thole pins,” when James King, afraid that the good man might be taken by Heaven his word, cried from his seat in the weavers’ loft, ” Na, sir, no jist sae mony, or ye ken we’ll be whomilt.” Peter, or Patrick, Glass, died in spring of 1787, in the 43d year of his ministry.

The ensuing week will be a busy one in the East of Fife, with the return of the wives and families from the north. The crews will follow on an early day, though, perhaps, a rule they will be at sea in the event of any encouragement over the first, not the second, week of September. Several, however, are to proceed at once to Scarborough; but, as usual, the month will be devoted by most of the neighbours to the outfit for Yarmouth- Every period of the year has its own share bereavement and sorrow, but this season it has been exceptionally so. Thus, the relatives summoned from the north on the last errand to fewer than three open graves on the one day in churchyard of St Monance. Cellardyke has also had its own share in the death roll in the course the last eight days, the toiler on the sea being called home for the little blossom and the aged pilgrim, all but at the end of her journey of threescore and ten.

In consequence of the gale the fishing was all in the Forth on Wednesday, but as it began to lull twenty to thirty boats set to in the offing. Let the Newhaven veteran tell his own tale. ” The Wilsons and we sailed in and out hopes of seeing indications of the shoals, but all to no purpose. The skipper of the Maggie, however, shot as of old, as a mere peradventure, and got nine crans ; so like’ wise did James Logie for four crans. Ay,’ continued the veteran, ‘ it’s queer puzzle to the best of us.” The takes in question sold in the one case at 21s, and in the other at 27s 6d per cran. In the course of the afternoon the horizon was dotted with sails from the Stonehaven, if not from the- fishing grounds. Skipper Watson says that he sailed from the first named bay about noon on the previous day. There was a light northerly wind. gradually freshened into gale at midnight, when, though not without an arduous pull some five-and twenty miles sea, they saved their gear and bore away to land. There were only a few crans amongst the wind bound fleet. As some of the Fife boats are to continue the net fishing at Scarborough, they are expected home on early day, unless the prospect is all the brighter in the north. The families are also expected to return in the course of the ensuing week, but many, if not most of the crews, will hold to the chances of the first week in September.