1883
COLINSBURGH CONCERT. –On Friday evening last, in the Schoolroom here, a very enjoyable concert was given by the Anstruther and Cellardyke Glee Club. Part songs, glees, solos, duets, &c., constituted the programme, all of which were given in a creditable manner. The piano was ably presided at by Miss Buist, Elie.
International Fisheries Exhibition. –Twelve Cellardyke fishermen have been selected from whom to choose four representatives to visit the forthcoming Exhibition in London, They are expected to absent a fortnight, and their expenses are to be paid.
1884
The fishing boat Anapira of Cellardyke put into Leith on Friday with fish for the market, had on board a shark, about 4ft long which had been caught in the Firth of Forth.
A SALVAGE CLAIM.
About the beginning of last month we reported that the KY boat (No. 1453), Cellardyke, had got one of her masts damaged, and that she was towed up the river by the stream tug Storm King. For this a salvage of £2O has been claimed by the Tug Company. This claim, we understand, is to be resisted, on the alleged ground that, in the circumstances, it is quit unwarrantable, as the boat had entered the river, and was in no danger, and that, therefore, the tug was not entitled to anything more than an ordinary pilotage, which would amount to about 15s. Similar heavier claims have been made upon two Ferryden boats, and should this case go into Court it will excite a good deal of interest.
St Andrews
Mr Miller, boat builder, has made a name for himself among the fishing class. The “Fisher’s Friend” launched by him some weeks ago seems to have taken the eye of the fishermen, and a boat belonging to Cellardyke leas been sent to him to be refitted. The craft is afterwards to be engaged at the Shetland fishing. Mr Miller has two small boats on the stocks, and an order has been given fur the building of a large boat.
1885
On Tuesday morning an act of cruel vandalism was discovered at the fine shop being fitted up by Provost Skinner in the west end of Cellardyke —the frame of the plate glass windows being cut and destroyed, seemingly by a hatchet used over night with no sparing hand. In the course of Saturday night some party, actuated by the same cowardly spirit, lifted a superior drill plough, belonging to Mr Cairns of Kilrenny Mill, and threw it over the steep brae or bank at the Golden Strand, where it lay broken to pieces.
Scottish Sea Fisheries Association. A meeting of the Scottish Sea Fisheries Association was held in Aberdeen on Tuesday —Mr Murray, Cellardyke, presiding. It was decided that the constitution the Association should be such as to embrace, not only fish curers, but fish merchants, and also fishermen and all others interested in the prosperity and the development of the sea fisheries. ……. A long series of recommendations for the proper conduct of the fish trade was resolved upon These included one to the effect that the dates for commencing the curing of herrings for export should be the 20th May for the Hebrides, 20th June for Shetland, 13th July for Orkney, and 20th July for East Coast of Scotland. Another of the recommendations dealt with the size of baskets and the uniform hour of receiving delivery of herrings—twelve o’clock of the date of catch. It was also recommended that herrings shall not be shorter than 8 ½ inches as delivery fish :
1886
CELLARDYKE. BURGH COURT. —A Burgh Court was held on Tuesday—Bailies Martin and Smith on the bench—when the following cases were disposed of :—Breaking School Windows—George Salter, Alexander Hodge Moncrieff, and Thomas Smith, three young lads, were charged with wilfully and mischievously breaking several panes of glass in the Infant School windows by throwing stones, on Thursday the 8th inst. All the boys pled not guilty. Three young lads were brought forward in support of the charge, and all agreed that the accused threw stones and broke the windows The boys had all been playing truant at the time. The Fiscal said it was very painful for the Magistrates to have to sit in judgment on so young boys. Nevertheless property must be protected. The boys had evidently got beyond the jurisdiction of the parents, and he suggested the application of the birch rod, as any other punishment would be no punishment to the children but only to their parents. Bailie Martin, in finding the charge proved, said it appeared to be the opinion of the Cellardyke boys that when any building is uninhabited they were at liberty to break the windows. Considering their youth, and seeing they did not know much better, they had agreed only to fine them 2s 6d, but if any other boys came up they would be punished in a different way. They would be taken to some prison and whipped. He did not know whether the School Board would make the parents put in the windows or not. They had nothing to do with that. He also warned them against playing the truant, for if they had been at school the offence would not have been committed.
Assault and Breach of the Peace —Alexander Pattie, carter, was charged with assaulting Thomas Peattie, baker, by striking him a severe blow on the face with his clenched fist, on Tuesday the 16th March. He was also charged with committing a breach of the peace at same time and place. There were five previous convictions against accused, who pled guilty to assault, but denied the breach of the peace. This plea was accepted by the Fiscal, who said it was very distressing to see so young a man with such a record of crime. He hoped he would take warning, or he would get beyond the jurisdiction of the Magistrates altogether. Pattie was fined 25s, or a month’s imprisonment.
1887
Fife Fishing Boats for the Lewis.
ln the chequered prospects of the Forth it will excite little surprise that two Cellardyke and four Pittenweem boats are about to proceed to the Lewis. ’At one time this fishing was in no little repute on the Fife Coast, but this is the first attempt to revive It for many years. A start is to be made early in the week, but far as we hear no engagement will be entered into till at Stornoway or Barra. Moray Firth friends, however, have been busy writing to the effect that not a few boats are engaged there at 15s for May and 20s for June—i.e., per cran with £2O of bounty. With so little encouragement none of the Fife boats have returned to the Irish seas or to the white fishing at Shetland, but several continue to rendezvous with more or less success at Shields.
1888
A FISHERMAN AND HIS WIFE FINED FOR ASSAUlT.—Before Provost Martin and Bailie Sharp a Burgh Court on Saturday, Robert Watson, fisherman, and his wife (Betsy Keay), were charged with assaulting Catherine Sutherland wife of Alexander Wood, and also with committing a breach of the peace. The complaint bore that on the 10th instant, in a back court off George Street, Mrs Watson abused Mrs Wood, and seizing hold of her by the head pushed her up against a wall, which injured her. On going into her house Watson met her, and lifting his foot kicked her severely on the legs. Both then created a disturbance by shouting all sorts of names to Wood. A plea of not guilty was tendered, and three witnesses gave evidence which bore out the facts stated in the complaint. Mrs Wood said after the assault two doctors attended her who said that her hench had been very much inflamed by the severe treatment she had undergone. One previous conviction was recorded against Watson for assaulting the same woman in 1885, for which he was then fined 10. 6d. Provost Martin said the fine ought to be 12s 6d on this occasion after having been previously convicted, but the Magistrates had decided to inflict a penalty of 12s 6d in all, of which Watson would pay 10s, and his wife 2s 6d. He hoped they would be more careful in future. The fines were paid.
Three Cellardyke boats sailed last week for Stornoway, via the Caledonian Canal. They have both nets and lines on board, the herring fishing will not begin till the 15th prox. A little squadron is being equipped for the Kinsale fishing, and others are making ready for Howth, &c.
1889
Yesterday the large fishing boat Glenroy, of Cellardyke, arrived at St Andrews Harbour, and reported the loss of one of their crew, named James Boyter, about eight o’clock yesterday morning, twenty-three miles east the May. The unfortunate man had overbalanced himself and fallen overboard, and before the boat, which was going about six miles hour, could brought up to him, he had become exhausted and been drowned.