1860
Stonehaven – Our Fishermen—We are glad to observe a marked improvement in the habits of the fishermen engaged in the prosecution the herring fishing here this season, from what used to be witnessed on former years. The absence of a great amount of the drinking which formerly characterised this part of our community while here engaged in their calling, their attendance on Divine worship, and holding of frequent religious meetings speak well for the effects of the revival work which has been reported from time to time going on in their midst. In addition to the ordinary congregational and social meetings for prayer, since the arrival of the fishermen here (from Cellardyke, Ferryden, and Cullen) meetings have been held on the Saturday evenings at eight o’clock, in Donaldson’s School-room, and on Sabbath mornings at ten, a room kindly granted and fitted up by Miss Forbes, old Town for the purpose, during the fishing season. Meetings were also held in both places last Sabbath evening after Divine service, and the exercises engaged in were chiefly conducted by themselves The Rev. Mr Dougal of the Free Church preached, by request, to a large meeting in the open air at three o’clock, who listened with deep attention to his earnest exhortation
1861
CELLARDYKE. Hairbreadth Escape. On Monday last, while the fishermen were employed launching their boats for the forthcoming herring fishing, one of their number, named Robert Ritchie, narrowly escaped with his life. While pulling the rope attached to the boat his foot slipped, and fell in front of the carriage. Before, its impetus could be arrested, one the wheels passed over his shoulder, providentially inflicting no greater injury than dislocating the bone. He was immediately conveyed home, and his recovery is progressing favourably. Although the use of the carriage materially adds to the safety and ease of these operations, yet, from the weight of these large boats, and the long and narrow way over which they are transported, they are still attended with considerable risk, the more especially as they are conducted with that activity and fearlessness which so imminently characterise our fishermen. It is, therefore, greatly to desiderated that more care and prudence were evinced where the safety life and limb are so intimately concerned.
STEAMERS ON THE FISHING GROUND TO THE EDITOR OF THE JOHN O’GROAT JOURNAL. Sir,—As the time is now drawing near when all the fishermen in the different towns on the Firth of Forth and other places will be engaged in prosecuting the herring fishing, the undersigned earnestly entreat the attention of the owners and commanders of those steamers plying from Leith, Granton, Grangemouth to London, Hamburg, Rotterdam, Hull, and Newcastle, and vice versa to endeavour to avoid doing injury to the property of the fishermen, by keeping outside of the boats and nets during the herring fishing season, which only lasts for little more than six weeks, and is carried on during the darkness of the night, which makes it the more dangerous, It is impossible for these boats to get out of the way of the steamers, while they for a twenty or thirty minutes more sailing at most – suppose it were sixty minutes —may easily avoid such a fearful accident as the loss of the boat “Paragon” of Newhaven, which was run down: by the “Clarence” steamer, killing the master, and losing a new first-class boat with the whole drift of nets to the value of £200, besides the loss of the best of the fishing. In this case all the recompense the Company has given is fifty pounds for the loss of the boat, nets and life, and to support five orphan children, to whom alone four times this sum ought to have been allowed over and above the full value of boat and nets, which would be £200, and at the least average for the Joss of the fishing £100, or in all £500, The half of the sum given -£25 —is appropriated to the children, and the surviving owner got the other half, whereby he has lost as his share in boat and nets £75, and has been deprived of the means of gaining his bread, and is unable to replace them. Surely it would have been a trifle to such an able company, and nothing but justice to have paid the full value of the boat and nets, besides the above sum for the loss of the fishing and of life, and for the of the orphan children. We hope the owners and commanders of these steamers will think seriously of this and in future study to avoid such a fearful calamity.
We the undersigned fishermen in Cellardyke would feel obliged to the editor of the John O’ Groat Journal for the insertion of the foregoing, as year by the loss and destruction of nets and bladders, which could easily be avoided by these steamers keeping outside of the boats, which would not take above an hour’s more sailing, and would lessen the risk of life we run.
David Brown.
John Salter
William Smith &c &c
Cellardyke, July 10, 1861. | [The document is signed by thirty-six fishermen.]
Arbroath – Numbers of boats frequent Arbroath harbour during the fishing season from Auchmithie, East and West Haven, and even from Cellardyke: and complaints are made by some of these strangers of the want of proper red lights at the entrance to the harbour. Surely the Harbour Trustees will not allow these complaints be made, without taking means to remedy the defect. It is believed that much money would not be required to erect the necessary pillars and lights.
1862
A grey shark, 18 feet in length was captured in Cellardyke, a few days ago, in the act of swallowing a cod caught in some lines.
Accident.—On Wednesday last, accident a serious nature occurred to a young woman, named Catherine Pratt, belonging to Cellardyke. She had been assisting the barking of some sails, and, while carrying a hand-barrow tubful the boiling liquor used for the purpose down a steep lane, at the west end of the town, her foot slipped, and the greater portion the contents were spilled over her person, scalding her, particularly about the arms and shoulders, in a most fearful manner. The unfortunate sufferer lies in a very distressed condition, but hopes are entertained her recovery.
Curious.—ln the course of last week a cat belonging to family in Cellardyke had kittens, one of which would appear to have been formed when Dame Nature was in frolicsome mood. It had two faces, one on each side of the head, which was unusually large. It appeared to have three eyes, two being so closely joined together as. to seem but one. Each nose and mouth (situated directly below the ear) was well formed, as were the other parts of the body. Shortly after birth it was killed by its mother, but it has been carefully preserved a medical gentleman, who, we understand, is to present the museum of St Andrews College.
Most of the Cellardyke boats have this week proceeded to Gourdon or Stonehaven, where we understand their success has been little encouraging at the home station.
1863
The lugger “Alexandra,” which has been lying idly since she was abandoned in the harbour by the Cellardyke fishermen has been fitted out or the herring fishing, and entrusted to the care of an English crew. She is provided with as many as fifty-nine nets, and sailed on Monday evening for her first cruise, the result of which is looked forward to with considerable interest.
Large numbers of men, principally from Skye and the Highlands, are arriving daily by the steamer and other conveyances in quest of situations as half dealsmen, and it exhibits in a marked degree the depressed state of labour in the country, that the supply will far exceed the demand, several have already left disappointed.
Montrose –Accident at the Harbour. —Yesterday, about midday, a great deal of excitement was occasioned the Dock in consequence of a horse and cart having fallen into a fishing boat lying at the protection wall on the west side of the dock gates. The cart, which belongs to John Burgess, was being backed nearer the edge of the quay for the purpose of taking in load of herrings, and there being nothing to check the wheels, the cart went over, dragging the horse after it. The horse and cart turned completely over, and fell into Cellardyke boat lying below. The shafts of the cart were cut off as quickly as possible, and the unlucky animal, which had been lying in a most uncomfortable position all the time, with its feet the air, was secured with ropes and hoisted on shore. Notwithstanding the dangerous fall, the horse appeared to have received little or no injury. The boat sustained no damage; and, although several parties were in the boat the time of the accident, no one was hurt in the least.
1864
We learn that the Leith tug steamer, Robert Scott, has sank in about five fathoms of water at the entrance of the harbour at Cellardyke, not far from Anstruther. The Robert Scott left Leith for Cronstadt, with a good supply of coal, last Sunday and, sometime after she had been at sea, it was found that the “donkey” was not in a good working state, and that water was gaining on her. At eight o’clock on Monday morning, after knocking about on the coast, the tug anchored at the spot where she now lies, and, five hours afterwards, she is reported to have sunk. The vessel, we believe, has been leased by a firm, and is insured for £2000. Should the weather continue fine, the steam-tug may be raised, but should it prove other-wise, the probability is that she will become a total wreck.
The steam vessel Robert Scott, which sprung a leak and sank off Cellardyke harbour at the beginning of last week, still lies under water except part of her mast.. Her funnel fell over in the end of the week, and it is not now expected from the rocky nature of the ground where she lies, that she can hold together much longer, even with the moderate weather of the last ten days. She is under the custody of the coast-guard at present.
Cupar court – Adam Scott, fish-cadger, residing in Pittenweem, pled guilty to having, on the night the or morning of the 15th July, committed a breach of the peace at Cellardyke, and was sentenced pay a fine 15s or go to prison for fifteen days.
THE FISHERY COMMISSION
The Commission met at Anstruther yesterday – Mr Caird M.P. and Professor Huxley being present. They arrived about eleven o’ clock in H. M, gunboat Salamis.
Thomas Fowler, fisherman, Cellardyke, was the first witness. From an experience of thirty years, he was well acquainted with the fishing trade. The herring fishing had in his opinion diminished for the past two or three years, while the white fishing, such as for cod , ling, and haddocks had increased. He accounted for the increased white fishing by the larger boats now being used, the fishermen going farther out to sea, a larger quantity of fishing gear being used, and improved methods of fishing practised. A much greater quantity of fish was caught now as compared with ten or twenty years ago, though the catch by each particular boat might not be greater. The fishermen on this coast had no grievance to complain of, except that young herrings were killed along with the sprats further up the Firth, and that was the only cause he could assign for the decrease in the herring fishing. So far as he had seen, there was no interference on the part of the French fishermen with the local fishermen, and the Fishery Board cutter had seldom to interfere with them. The remainder of this witness’s evidence was devoted to information as to the particular periods when the several kinds of fish were caught. Trawling had lately been stopped except in St Andrews Bay where a few St Monance fishermen practised it.
David Corstorphine, fisherman, _was next examined, and certified to a decrease of white fishing in-shore, but to an increase when the boats went far out at sea. The quantities of lines now used was much again as that used twenty years ago. The fishermen had always plenty of bait which they got from the Clyde. The fishermen practised no method injurious to the fishing except sometimes using the fish for bait. The herring fishing always fluctuated, but there was a great decrease for the last two or three years. The fishermen found no interference with their trade to complain of, except that when they went north to fish, the French fishermen interfered a good deal with them when their nets were shot. As to the projected new harbour at Anstruther, he was of opinion that it would be a great advantage to the fishermen saving them from lying off shore waiting for water, and as being a central point to run to. He was one of _those who made application for the new harbour, and the fishermen had agreed to pay additional harbour dues to get it.
Alexander Welch, fish-curer, Pittenweem, gave evidence proving a great falling off in the fishing for the last two years. Trawl fishing had been practised in the Traith or Fluke Hole some years ago, but was now stopped. The trawling was done by St Monance men.
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