The Cellardyke Echo – 1/9/2022 – Issue 354

1871

Pilot Boat Found.

Yesterday afternoon, two men from Cellardyke found a boat bottom upwards drifting up the Firth with the tide. As it was too large for them to take in tow, they informed Mr Keay, the Custom House officer, of the matter, at whose instance Mr William Parker, along with several others, went out in a boat fur the purpose of endeavouring to bring it ashore. On reaching it they took it in tow, but slow progress was made, until it was found that an anchor was hanging down from the submerged boat, which frequently caught the bottom. After some time occupied in sweeping for it, they succeeded in getting up the anchor, and after a hard pull brought the boat into the harbour. It seems to have been a pilot boat, and has, painted on it “Wide-awake” on the one side, and ” BO. No. 24″ on the other. The stern has been knocked in either by striking against some rocks, or being run into by some vessel.

1872

What the Good Templars Have Done and are Doing.—As it is now year ago since the Good Templar movement was introduced into the eastern district Fifeshire, we, as outsiders, have so far opportunity of judging of what it has done, and thereby of what it may possibly achieve in the future. When the Total Abstinence Society was instituted in 1840, its first year was one singular triumph and promise; but subsequently, with an occasional flaring up,” it did not realise the sanguine hopes its friends, and with this fact before them many people predicted just such another future for Good Templar enthusiasm. Curiously enough, the principle on which the first temperance crusade was carried on was exactly similar to that of to-day. There were the same regular meetings the same heartfelt brotherly sympathy, mutual fellowship, and earnest striving to reclaim the outcasts; and so long as these were the mottoes on their noble flags, the sons of temperance really achieved wonders ; but there came time of change, when, as other individuals came the front, like army under unskilful generals, the organisation fell to pieces. All this progressive and expansive force, however, was only the outcome of accidental policy; but in the case of the Good Templars it appears to as it were the basis and key keystone of the movement; and as the world is stranger to the strength these sterling motives,  it can scarcely be doubted that so long as the Good Templars are true to themselves they must continue to make themselves more and more felt as a power for good amongst their neighbours. The Good Templars, like the Free Masons, keep a strict guard over the proceedings which take place the Lodge, but though we are not at liberty to estimate what is said or done within the mystic precincts, yet at public meetings the most abandoned and debauched—the very pariahs society, so to speak, men and women whose salvation was thought impossible-” have stood up respectably clad and in all respects seemingly quite reclaimed and have borne testimony to the happy agency, which, in the good providence of God, has been instrumental in plucking them verily, as brands from inevitable destruction. These trophies in the way of Good Templar triumphs, must claim from every benevolent mind the best wishes for its onward progress as one of the best recognised influences for the amelioration of the crying evil of intemperance. Though not forming, strictly speaking, a constituent element of the movement, we hear that the Good Templar Lodge of Cellardyke have, with enlightened and exemplary regard for the benefit the community, organised a special committee, whose avowed business it is to arrange for the amusement and instruction of its members, with the ulterior view of providing such approved means of popular entertainments as penny readings, lectures, concerts, &c. This idea, so praiseworthy to those with whom it has originated, has also been adopted in the Anstruther Lodge, and in the same happy spirit it is proposed,we hear, to obtain the able services of the best and kindest of music teachers, Mr Wm. B. Watterston, so organise and instruct a choir in connection with each lodge between Crail and Elie ; and as the beautiful hymns form one of the most distinguishing, and the same time one of the most attractive features their ordinary meetings, this arrangement bids fair to command the support and co-operation of all concerned.

1873

On Thursday evening ten boats arrived here with takes ranging from five to fifty-one crans, which had been netted the “White Spat.” The most fortunate crew was Skipper Duncan McRuvie, but his townsman, Skipper George Corstorphine, was only one cran behind him —the total quantity landed the ten crews being 300 crans. The first herrings, with the exception two takes which sold at 12s, realised from 18s to 19s a cran. This was the best fished day of the season, and great hopes are entertained of a good yield in the ensuing week.

A few days later

About fifty Cellardyke boats returned this week from the stations on the north east coast at which they have been fishing during the season. These have all completed their complements of 200 crans, and many of them have considerably exceeded that quantity. Skipper Peter Murray and his crew have landed about 400 crans, and is the best fished boat that we have heard of this season. A good many of the crews were settling up their accounts and dividing the proceeds of their labour yesterday, and several of the half-dealsmen have already left for their homes. One or two cases of drunkenness were observed yesterday, but we are glad that this method of getting quit of their hard-won earnings appear to be much less resorted to than in former years.

1874

ENORMOUS TAKES OF HERRING OFF MONTROSE. Our Montrose correspondent writes –

The shoal herrings which the boats struck on Tuesday had been something enormous. William Mearns who is so well known as an experienced and enterprising fisherman, declares that he “never saw the like of it'” His boat had 42 nets. He hauled 22, and threw 30 crans overboard, and brought 55 crans ashore. He hailed James Watson, Cellardyke, No 68 and gave him 20 nets’ fishing, with probably fifty crans in them. Altogether this would give a great total of 135 crans, which in other words, out of single shot, would give high a season’s average. The saving of the nets is a matter of vital importance, and James Watson of Cellardyke is highly to be commended in at once telegraphing that he had saved his brother fisherman’s nets, and would restore them to him. This unbought police of the sea, it is to be hoped, will continue to regulate the conduct of all our fishermen.

 (KY 68 may be the “Integrity” which was registered in 1869, but by the 1880s the number belonged to Fergie Hughes’ “Magdalene Hughes”)

LAMMAS HERRING FISHING. Another week of the season has gone, and by the time of our next weekly issue the Lammas fishing of 1874 will be at an end. In the end of last and beginning of this week, thirty of the Cellardyke boats returned from the stations on the north-east coast. The whole of these had completed their complements, and as a number of the crews had caught considerably more than the 200 crans engaged for, the average sum realised by the thirty crews will be upwards of £200. As a rule, the Cellardyke fishermen have been very successful, and although there are this as in every season one or two instances where the sum realised will not much more than clear expenses, yet the average over the fleet will be considerably higher than for some years past, and will at least reach the sum of £150. ( N.B Cellardyke had over 170 boats fishing this season)

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