1865
Distribution of the Subscriptions for the late boat accident
On Saturday evening the committee which was originally formed for the purpose of collecting and distributing the subscriptions for the widows and children of the fishermen who perished on the 10th May, met in the Free Church Hall here. Present, James Fowler, David Murray (Sharpe and Murray); Mr R Cunningham Baxter; Mr C Carstairs, Mr G Barclay Rodger, and Mr A Watson Murray…… It was resolved that a monthly allowance of £6 18s should be paid to each of the three widows which they should receive at the shop of Messrs Sharpe and Murray on the first Monday of each month. It was also agreed to impress upon the widows the importance of sending their children regularly to school, and that the school fees should be paid out of the fund. Mr Murray was also empowered in the event of any extraordinary emergency befalling any of the families to afford what extra assistance he might consider needful in that circumstances. The meeting likewise resolved that the amount of subscriptions, after allowance had been paid, should be deposited in the commercial bank at Anstruther. The committee which is to meet quarterly adjourned.
Herring Fishing. A general commencement has been made here in the Lammas herring drave. The result as yet has been very poor. The number of boats belonging to Anstruther or Cellardyke at the fishing this year is 173; at Pittenweem, 58; St Monance, 104; Largo and Buckhaven, 138; and St Andrews, 16-or a fleet of 489 boats.
1866
Proposed boat race – last week, in our notice of the new fishing vessel, we stated her designer, Captain Hughes, was so confident of her superior sailing qualities that he had offered a premium of ten pounds to any of the Cellardyke fishing boats that would outstrip her in a sailing match round the island of May from Anstruther harbour. Whatever the result of the match may be it is likely to be contested with spirit and resolution, as one of the largest of our fishing boats has been placed in a position to take up the challenge whenever the Pioneer shall be ready for sea; and as her equipment is expected to be completed in the course of the next week, the race may thereafter be daily looked for. As the outfit of the new vessel goes on it continues to attract the attention and, we may add elicits the criticism of our fishermen. She will be what is called ‘very taught rigged’ as her main mast will be over sixty feet above the deck. There will be 226 yards of Canvas in her mainsail, 120 yards in her mizzen sail and the same number in her jib; and when we add this to her fore sail and her gaff topsails for her main and mizzen masts, the Pioneer will have a total spread of canvas of not less than 650 yards. In our former notice we gave the tonnage as over 80 tons, builders measurement, and nautical readers will have some conception of her sharp build when it is stated that her registered tonnage is only a fraction over twenty five tons
It’s an ill Wind that blaws naebodv Guid.
A-somewhat singular -instance of this familiar old saying occurred the other day in the experience of a worthy Cellardyke merchant, who deals very largely in oilskin clothing for fishermen. Amongst the many retailers in all parts -of the coast that are supplied from the Cellardyke establishment was a party the north of Scotland, who, in addition to his home business, engaged this season in the Lewis curing speculation, which, as your readers know, has turned out most ruinously, and reduced some to absolute bankruptcy. Amongst this class was our “norlan” friend, to whom, according to order, a considerable assortment of oilskins were despatched a week or two ago. Conform to mercantile method, an invoice had been sent off with the goods, which were to be forwarded to their destination by a sailing packet. The post, of course, was entrusted with the carriage of the invoice, which arrived north in due time. Instead, however, of a remittance in return, our Cellardyke’ merchant received from his northern customer an intimation bankruptcy. As was very natural in the circumstances the merchant was fairly taken aback by such a notice. He soon, however, recovered his usual vigour and promptitude, and recollecting that the easterly winds, which were being loudly and generally complained of by seafaring people would possibly have detained the vessel behind her time, the telegraph was forthwith set to work to ascertain the fact, when the gratifying intelligence was flashed back by return that the pallet was still in Leith. As a matter of course the merchant lost no time in hastening thither and regaining possession his goods which but for the ” ill winds,” would have been virtually lost to him.
Kilrenny Burn. —This fine streamlet, which is largely use by the inhabitants of Cellardyke and Kilrenny for washing and bleaching clothes, as well as by the farmers of the neighbourhood for watering their bestial, was likely to have been rendered altogether unfit for these important purposes in consequence of the operations connected with Messrs Rowett and Yool’s paraffin manufactory. It appears that the aqueous vapours evolved in the manufacturing process after being condensed into water, which, with other substances, is highly charged with ammonia, had been emptied on the field contiguous to the work, where by entering a drain it obtained an access to the burn. The stream was thus rendered so offensive and deleterious that cattle and horses not only instinctively refused to drink it, but the eels and minnows were found large numbers lying dead on its banks. As the water was also made use of to some extent for domestic purposes by the inhabitants of Kilrenny, considerable inconvenience was occasioned to them being de- rived at a time of drought of what had been hitherto considered unstinted and unfailing supply. Very general complaints have been thus expressed with regard to the tainting of the stream, but it is gratifying to state this will be only of a temporary nature, Mr Yool is doing all that he possibly can the meantime by emptying the foul water on a part the field where it is not expected to communicate with the burn, to avoid polluting “the crystal brook” with any further influx from his works. We further understand that, in the event the paraffin works turning out successfully, arrangements will be made by which the well known manure, sulphate of ammonia, will be produced from the water which has given rise to the outcry, so that the public will soon be again in possession of their inestimable privilege as pure and uncontaminated as ever.
1867
Lifeboat Exercise and Inspection.— On Saturday last, the lifeboat Admiral Fitzroy. was inspected by Captain Robertson, R.N., of the Royal National lifeboat Institution, when the crew also went through their quarterly exercise, under the coxswain. Alexander Fowler. Cellardyke. The serene and beautiful weather which prevailed the occasion rendered the proceedings altogether, of course, of formal nature, but the very expert way in which the men handled the oars and trimmed the sails, drew from the inspecting officer some hearty expressions of satisfaction and praise, for it told to his, as to every experienced eye, that the skill and efficiency which were so steadily displayed by the gallant fellows under the bright summer sky. and an unruffled sea, would be as ready and able to do good and gallant services when winter’s storm was whistling in fury, and the roaring billows were chafed into foam. Captain Robertson also expressed himself as highly gratified with the prompt attendance which the crew had given to their exercises season when the time and attention of the fisherman are so much taken up by the preparations for the herring fishing, and to mark his sense of their laudable spirit and conduct a tangible way be ordered them receive the allowance awarded for practice in rough weather. While inspecting the boat and her appurtenances, he likewise complimented William Parker, for the thorough clean and serviceable manner in which everything was kept, and altogether the result of his official visit appeared to be source of satisfaction to all concerned.
1868
On Tuesday, Mr J. Hendry, the Custom House officer on duty, apprehended a man named John Jack in the act of attempting to smuggle a quart of brandy from the French lugger St Marie. Jack is one of the crew of the boat Neptune, belonging to Cellardyke, and when apprehended, the bottles were found secreted beneath his guernsey. The prisoner was kept in custody all night, and taken before Robert Walker, Esq, one of the Justices of the Peace next morning, when he was fined 7s, the value of the brandy, and 9s.of expenses
Stonehaven – Death of a Cellardyke boat’s crewman
Sudden Death.—On the morning of Sunday last, John Buchanan, a fisherman, belonging to Prestonpans, was brought ashore from a Cellardyke boat, in a dying state. He was immediately taken to a lodging where he was attended to by Dr Thom. He found the man in an unconscious condition, and did everything in his power to alleviate his symptoms. The man died shortly afterwards, and, we understand, that notwithstanding report that he had received injuries before landing, the result of the whole examination-fiscal and medical—was that the man had died from natural causes. Buchanan leaves a widow entirely unprovided for. A scheme for aiding her in some degree was set on foot by some of Mr Methven’s coopers which by the generosity of their fellow-tradesmen was enabled to be carried out. A subscription list was made out, and fifty-three boats’ crews contributed L.2 14s 6d, which the curers, coopers, fish-buyers, and others engaged in the same line of business raised to the fair sum of L.4 7s. But this sum we are sorry to state was considerably reduced by the payment of several suras to parties who, if they had acted in the same generous spirit the contributors, would have given up their claims. It is to be regretted that such a want of benevolence on the part of a few should counteract the benevolence of the many. The deceased was buried here on Tuesday.
Fishing Gear Destroyed. —The piratical attacks foreigners on the gear of British fishermen are every day becoming more audacious and frequent. Last week the crew of a Cellardyke deep sea going boat—that belonging to Skipper Martin Gardiner had their lines cut, and several pieces taken away in perhaps as barefaced a manner as ever sea robbery of the kind was attempted. The Cellardyke men observed a smack hovering rather suspiciously about their gear, but the signal flag that marks the end of the lines was seen the distance, nothing was thought to amiss until, as the process of drawing in the gear went on, it was found that a long stretch had been cut away by the foreigners who had then tied on the signal with the object of deceiving our fisherman until an escape could effected which they were only too fortunate in doing, so before the place was reached the smack was miles away. On arriving at Anstruther. Skipper Gardener reported the circumstances to Mr Gillies, whose representations to the Fishery Board are likely to lead to a cruiser being appointed to watch over the interests of British fishermen in the North Sea. This is certainly a matter that demands attention. Although much less numerous than in former years there is still a considerable fleet of Belgian and Dutch smacks or busses engaged in handline fishing the North Sea, and these vessels are of a large tonnage and well manned they have only too many opportunities of molesting the fishing boats of the coast, and this would appear to their policy unless they receive a prompt and decided check by the authorities.
At the Sheriff Criminal Court on Monday—Sheriff Taylor presiding—John Wilson, a vagrant from Cellardyke, pled guilty to the theft of a duck from a duck-house at Milton Mains, and was sentenced to 14 days’ imprisonment, with hard labour for seven days.
The Board of Fishery has intimated, through its active officer, Mr Gillies, that every effort is being made by communicating with the British Consuls at Ostend and Dunkirk to recover the long lines of which there is every reason to suspect they were plundered by the fishing smacks of these ports. The fishery board thus hold out a hope to the Cellardyke and Pittenweem fishermen, who were so plundered, of compensation for the past as it promises most distinctly protection for the future. The energy and spirit with which the Board has acted in this matter deserves the highest praise. At their instance samples of the sea gear have been supplied by the injured fishermen, which it is understood has been forwarded to the Consuls, in order that in searching the vessels, if British lines be on board, the offence may be at once convicted and punished.
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