1880
Comparatively little continues to be done at the cod and ling fishery, but on Tuesday night the Cellardyke boat, “Lillias Scott,” made a rather hopeful trial at the herring drift. The fishing ground was in the tideway between the May and the Bass, and “thee signs of life ” were such that with suitable weather the search thus begun will be continued over the season. Nor is it less suggestive that the representatives of the leading English houses are already arriving amongst us, and though, as yet, the first notes are feeble, yet every day may be expected to hear the coast once more ringing with the music of the herring drave.
CELLARDYKE. NOTICE OF REMOVAL. T. THOMSON & SON, BOOTMAKERS, beg to intimate that they have REMOVED to those New and Extensive Premises in JAMES’ STREET, CELLARDYKE, where, by strict attention to business, they hope to be favoured with a continuance of public patronage. Always hand a large Stock of BOOTS and SHOES at very Moderate Prices.
Two Cellardyke urchins, named respectively Wilson and Watson, were charged with what seemed to be rather boisterous love making towards a serving girl also from Cellardyke but the charge broke down and the youths were dismissed, after some reflections from the bench, to be more guarded in their gallantry in future.
LAUNCH OF A BOAT. – On Wednesday, Mr J. A. Millar launched from his boatbuilding yard a finely modelled fishing boat for Messrs John Boyter and George Ritchie, Cellardyke. This new addition to our fishing fleet is one of the largest that has yet been built in Anstruther, being within four inches of fifty feet in length, and has been named “The Guiding Star. – Mr Millar, we believe, has another boat on the stocks.
CELLARDYKE CHURCH—LAYING THE FOUNDATION STONE.—An interesting proposal is being ventilated to lay the foundation stone of this church with masonic honours. Many reasons, both of a special and general nature, invite such a step, towards which, as on obstacle is spoken of on the part of the valued minister of the parish, the Rev. J. S. Anderson, the way would seem to be clear for the cordial and unanimous concurrence of all interested. In an architectural point of view the church holds the foremost rank amongst the modern buildings of the district, and this of itself might claim the honour which was accorded to that tawdry pile—the Town Hall of East Anstruther. In the hands of that distinguished master of the craft, John Whyte- Melville, Esq., there is no doubt but that the arrangements would be worthy of the interesting occasion; but subordinate to those, nothing could conduce more to the success of the holiday —as doubtless it would be—than that the fishermen of Cellardyke should take part in the procession. There are between four and live hundred to be so enrolled, and the appearance of this fine body of men —their sinews braced, and their cheeks browned as only sea heroes are with the battle of the billows would of itself kindle the enthusiasm of the locality, and draw and delight spectators from every adjacent parish. It were premature to sketch the programme, but we believe that in the event of the ceremony taking place the foundation stone would be deposited under the threshold of the main entrance door, a massive archway in the base, of the lofty tower which forms such a salient feature in the front elevation of the church.
SHERIFF SMALL DEBT COURT.— The quarterly diet this Court was held here on Saturday—Sheriff Bell on the bench. There were about twenty-seven, including two continued cases on the roll. With few exceptions decreets were given in absence—the only cases being an action at the instance of Robert Lindsay, baker, against Alexander Tarvit, fisherman, Cellardyke. The laconic defence was “they’d paid ther’sels,” which appeared to mean that another creditor had secured the herring boat, as well as the earnings of the season. He admitted, however, that the crew had been supplied with bread at his order, when decree was given against him, with expenses.
1881
ANSTRUTHER — NARROW ESCAPES. Yesterday morning was marked by an extraordinary and violent change in the weather. There had been an intense frost for two or three days before, but towards the midnight of Tuesday snow began to fall in heavy flakes, and almost within the hour the black ground was covered with a fleecy carpet two or three inches deep. It was all but calm, however, and so it continued till towards dawn, when a brisk gale sprang up from the north-west. The swell also set in with startling suddenness, and by half tide, or 9 a.m., the surf was foaming like a cataract over the piers. Several boats gained the harbour, but one belonging to Cellardyke, while standing in on the port tack, was struck by a treacherous sea from the opposite quarter, but prompt assistance was successfully rendered from the breakwater. The warning, however, was not lost, for as other boats approached, signals were made with the effect of inducing them to bear away for the more sheltered Forth. The wind also veered to the westward, and soon rose to threefold violence, while the snow fell in blinding showers, so much so that the fog bell was rung in the Glamie Turret. Night closed in with no abatement of the storm, but fortunately the local boats were all accounted for, though no little excitement was caused in seafaring circles by a thrilling notice telegraphed to Mr Melville, merchant, to have the lifeboat ready, as a Stonehaven fishing yawl was running between life and death for the Firth of Forth. Many craft, large and small, were seen driving in from the sea. but the boat, though earnestly watched for, was not descried. Snow also continued to fall, and the drift setting in the roads in some places were so blocked as to prevent wheel traffic.
THE HERRING BRAND AND HERRING BASKETS. SIR,—My letter seems to have hit * Banffshire Curer” on a sore place. Let me, however put him right as to a misprint. The word “brand” should have been “barrel,” where I referred to the size. By contention was that as the most of the curers were signing memorials to keep the same size of barrels, we want the North curers to keep the same size of baskets and the cran measure.
“Banffshire Curer” says—‘‘ From long observation in Peterhead, I maintain that the Firth of Forth fishermen will not give a cran of herrings from baskets 18 by 21.” Now, in reply, we maintain that we have fished in Peterhead, Helmsdale, and Wick before ”Banffshire Curer ” was heard of and used this size of basket, which filled the cran to the satisfaction of every curer, and were told then, as now, by the Fishery officers, that 21 by 18 was the right size for the cran measures. But why talk of so long ago? We are now at the herring fishing, and hundreds of boats, KY.’s and LH.’s, all use such baskets, and have always done so for generations, We sell daily to curers here, and to English buyers by the cran, and we think they should know their business as well as “Banffshire Curer,” If he does not believe this, let him come and see.
We are quite content to be branded by him as “the worst to deal with in measuring herrings,” our equals only, he tells us, being in “a small district north side of the Moray Firth,”. Poor fellows! —who may they be?—very likely Portmahomack. He says— “I have seen the men of the KY. and LH. boats filling their baskets with large scoops.” Surely this is not much of a sight. But there is more of it which he has seen and complains about using. The large scoops ‘‘make the herring clash together, and the basket appears to be full, and then, with as much alacrity, with a single fold of the halyards hoist it on to the quay.” One would think that we deserve credit for this, as the sooner we get out our herrings the sooner we get to sea again, which, as a rule, our curers wish, The Buchan fisherman, he says, suffers most. We are glad to hear this; bat why should he suffer. Because “he fills his basket best.” Now this is exactly to the point. You fishermen of Buchan who use small scoops and get big baskets for nothing, but neither fill them nor hoist them to the quay with “ much alacrity,” are the favourites of one of your curers; you deserve big bounties, as you “suffer most.” “Then stick out for it. .
“Banffshire Curer” says that the curers give a “price per cran and bounty on the basis of the 25 per cent. calculation, If this is true we never heard of it before, and we never made any such bargains, At per cran has always been our bargains, and had nothing whatever to do with his 25 per cent. outcome, We are now indebted to “Banffshire Curer” for this information, and instead of us paying £18 for our four baskets, he tells us very plainly that we pay at the very least £30 for them on fishing 200 crans only.
Fraserburgh curers, he says, “got on better before they had the Cellardyke men, and may do without them yet.” We have no means of contradicting this statement; besides, it is quite apart from our argument, but if this is his mind of it, we can only way—ditto,—Yours, &e. KY. Cellardyke, 15th Jan., 1881
1882
BOOTS! BOOTS!! BOOTS!!!
ROBERT GRAY has OPENED that New Shop, at No. 3 Shore Street, Cellardyke, with a large and varied Stock of BOOTS and SHOES, such as will give every satisfaction to the Public in fit and wear. R. G. begs to thank the Public of Cellardyke and surrounding district for the past support be has received during the past two years, and still hopes, by strict attention to all orders entrusted to him,, to merit a share of public patronage
FOR SALE, the BOAT ” BROTHERS,” Forty Two Feet Long, and found for Sea. Apply to ROBERT MOTION, Cellardyke.
ANSTRUTHER BAKER’S MEETING, A meeting of the master bakers of the East of Fife was held the Royal Hotel here on Saturday evening. The trade was well represented—Mr Morris, ex Provost Earlsferry, being in the chair. The question of the night was the misunderstanding which led the other week to reduction of the 4lb loaf to sixpence in Anstruther and Cellardyke, while elsewhere it was and is still being retailed at 6½d. The initiative it appears had been taken by one of our local bakers, who justifies the step by the allegation that certain of bis brethren had in breach of faith given a present in the way of “Cakes” to their customers. The point was keenly, we may almost say hotly, discussed at the meeting; but we understand no compromise or arrangement could be come to, so that the anomaly regards the price of the “Staff of life” continues with us as before.
1883
Yesterday Councillor Jarvis launched from his boatbuilding yard a splendid new carvel-built fishing boat, 53 feet in length. She is built to the order of Mr Thomas Reid, fisherman, Cellardyke.
CELLARDYKE. ATTEMPTED SUICIDE. —On Tuesday afternoon, Elizabeth Jack or Thomson, wife of James Thomson, fisherman, Cellardyke, attempted to drown herself at the harbour here, by deliberately walking down the pier and jumping into the water. The occurrence was fortunately observed by a fisherman, who hastened to the spot, and by means of a boathook the body was fetched ashore, not, however, until she had been about ten minutes in the water. She was then conveyed to the house of a friend, and has since been in a rather critical state from the effects of her immersion. The woman is said to have been drinking hard for some time.
COURT OF SESSION – TEIND COURT. — PHILIP OLIPHANT AND OTHERS, FOR DISJUNCTION AND ERECTION OF CELLARDYKE quoad sacra
Intimation was to-day ordered of this petition. The petitioners, Philip Oliphant, solicitor and Banker Mayview, Anstruther, and others, ask the decree of disjunction and erection in the case of Cellardyke Church and parish quod sacra. The chapel it is stated within the parish of Kilrenny and Presbytery of St Andrews, and the parish contains 3198 inhabitants a and the proposed new parish 1450. The chapel is seated for 800 persons, and 350 of the sittings are let. The attendance at public worship is from 400 – 600
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