1855
A respectable young man, named Alexander Dick, son of John Dick, town-officer, Cellardyke, lost his life on Tuesday morning returning from the fishing ground, and when the boat was near the Isle of May, he was swept overboard the sail, which the crew were in the act of tacking, and immediately sank. He had a brother drowned a few years ago; and he was the only son remaining of family of ten children.
1859
The stimulus imparted to fisheries by the rapidity of railways laying the markets of all the large towns open to the coasts for the supply of fresh fish, has raised an urgent demand for deepwater harbours – so that the boats may get in at any time of tide to deliver their catch, and which are also most needful to the safety of the fishermen, who, as yet, have no ports of refuge that can be-taken at low water. These considerations have stirred the towns of Anstruther and Cellardyke to unite their common interest, and to move the Board of Fisheries to co-operate with them in erecting a deep-water harbour there. Before the fishermen at Cellardyke had consented to waive their claim for a separate harbour, the site of Craignoon, near at hand, had been fixed upon by them, and surveyed at their request, but though possessed of some capabilities, it gave no promise of a harbour equal in convenience or accessibility to that of Anstruther improved, and it was perhaps owing to the results of the survey, that the parties saw that their real interests lay, not in moving for’ separate harbours, and thus frittering away their money, but in applying extensive improvements to the harbour of Anstruther, which could be thus made to serve both towns, and a populous fishing neighbourhood besides. Accordingly, an enlargement of Anstruther Harbour, with the designation given it of the Union, Harbour, has been planned by Messrs. Stevenson, the engineers of the Board, and its design has met with general satisfaction and approval. The erection of a harbour’ of this description at Anstruther has been recommended by the Harbour of Refuge Commission; but, again, the funds are wanting, for its execution. Its estimated cost is L’30,000, a large sum to raise; nevertheless, there appear to be means available for effecting a loan, which, with assistance from the Board of Fisheries, may, at no very distant day enable this work to be executed.
1860
Anstruther Easter – PUBLIC MEETING. A public meeting of this place and the two neighbouring burghs of Cellardyke and West Anstruther, was held evening of Monday last-Provost Greig in the chair —for the purpose of expressing satisfaction at the passing of the Anstruther Union Harbour Act Parliament, and passing a vote of thanks to member, Mr Ellice, for his praiseworthy efforts to see the bill passed safely through both Houses. Mr Mackintosh, banker, read a lengthened resume of the transactions connected with the originating and passing of the bill, and the different measures adopted by the local committee for bringing the bill before Parliament, from which it appeared that the counsel and aid given Mr Ellice were greatly instrumental bringing it to a successful issue.
Mr John Todd, fishcurer, moved the first resolution—”That this meeting, composed of the inhabitants of East and West Anstruther and Cellardyke, in public meeting assembled, unanimously express gratification with the passing of the Anstruther Union Harbour Act, and that the meeting believes the harbour, when erected, will render the fisherman’s occupation, more remunerative and less hazardous; will not only prove a boat harbour of refuge, but will available for the general coasting trade and will lead to the development of the resources, and to increase the commercial importance and population of the whole district.” In support of his resolution, Mr Todd said that one fact of great important that would be derived by the passing of the act would that the boats could enter or depart from the harbour at any state of the tide, thereby not only enabling the fishermen to go oftener to sea at less risk, but also that the different markets would be supplied with the fish in a fresh state, for which a higher price would be got, which would both benefit fishermen and the inhabitants of the district. Bailie Brown, in seconding the resolution, referred to the improvements that had lately taken place on the town and harbour, and he had no doubt that, when the new harbour was erected, the fishing district of Anstruther would emerge from its past nothingness into a place of great commercial importance.
Mr George Darsie, chief manager of West Anstruther, moved the second resolution “That Magistrates and Council of East Anstruther merit the sincere thanks of the community for their spirit, and their ready acquiescence in the local arrangements necessary for the success of the Bill in Parliament.”—and support of it referred to the liberal spirit evinced by the East Anstruther town-Council in giving up all their revenue, property, and power, in order to secure the passing of bill; and thought they deserved the best thanks of the community for their readiness in doing everything in their power to throw no obstacle in the way of its passing. He thought their names would go down future generations as benefactors of their citizens for their praiseworthy acts.
Mr John T. Darsie, fishcurer, seconded the resolution.
Mr James Fowler, chief manager of the burgh of Kilrenny moved the third resolution, to the effect that the deepest gratitude of his constituents of the three burghs are specially due to Edward Ellice, M.P., their representative, by whose influence and matured experience Government was induced to introduce the bill into Parliament; and by whose judicious management and indefatigable exertions all opposition was overcome, the measure finally passed, and thus inestimable present and future benefits secured.” Mr Fowler said no one had the least idea of the real amount of labour and disinterested efforts of Mr Ellice in this, and all other matters connected with the constituency, but those who had occasion to be connected with him in these good works; and from what he knew of Mr Ellice he was sure no man ever better deserved the gratitude and esteem of the public than he did for his services in connection with the passing of this bill.
Mr Murray, draper, in seconding the resolution, also passed a high eulogium on the character and sterling integrity of Mr Ellice.
The various resolutions were put from the chair, and unanimously agreed to; and after a vote of thanks to Provost Greig for his conduct in the chair, and also to the local committee for their exertions in forwarding the measure, the meeting separated.
1863
Extract from a temperance speech given in Thurso by Dr Thomas Guthrie
I was over lately in Fife at a place there they call Cellardyke—a little fisher town which stands facing the billows of the German Ocean. A finer population than that of Cellardyke I have not seen anywhere; they are fine stalwart fellows, and I may tell you that it is chiefly by the produce of their labours that Edinburgh and Glasgow and Dundee are supplied with fish. Well, I spoke to one of these when there, and asked him all about the habits of the place “Oh sir,” said he, “the habits of our people are greatly improved within the last ten or twelve years. I have seen the time when no boat went off to sea—and they fished on the Dogger Bank—without two or three battles of whisky on board—now, all that is changed, I have seen the time when no boat was hauled up on the beach after the fishing without its costing so many shillings for whisky” “Now, sir,” he said, pointing to the long row of boats “do you see all these boats” – there were 75 of them all high and dry—‘”Well, sir, would you believe it, twelve years ago £25 worth of whisky were needed to run up these boats and now there they are and it has not taken a single drop” (Cheers.) Now, instead of the men taking whisky they take coffee. They take a kind of machine with them, I don’t know what you call it but it is a coffee-making machine, and they make their coffee at sea—they plough the deep, and they reap the deep, and they come home as sober as judges—aye, and more sober than many judges used to be. (Cheers and laughter.)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Guthrie
1864
The following is the number of boats fishing at the three principal stations in the district, viz., Anstruther and Cellardyke, 168 boats; Pittenweem, 54 boats; St Monance, 107 boats. Total, 329
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