1872
Questions as to Public Property in Cellardyke. —One of those delicate questions as to public right, which have involved the Scottish burghs into so many costly and vexatious law pleas, has just been discussed in Cellardyke but as some misunderstanding may exist on the points issue, we may be pardoned for making a few remarks by way of explanation. The burgh property of Kilrenny was granted in 1614 in a charter David Bethune, the then lord of the barony, in which the harbour of Cellardyke, with the vacant ground, roads, &c, were given by him to the town, exactly in the same way as Sir William Sandilands gifted away about the same time similar privileges to St Monance, and Sir William Anstruther some years earlier to Easter Anstruther. Cellardyke has been “clipped” of one-half of her sea braes, which were her chartered right as far as the Golden Strand;” but the town’s right to the vacant ground at the harbour has never been disputed, though a number of years ago the managers of the burgh, on sound reasons of expediency at the time, surrendered the space in question to the Teind Committee—that is, a number of the fishermen who are chosen from amongst themselves to manage the fish tithe tack between themselves and the superior, Admiral Bethune of Balfour House. When the surrender was made the “harbourhead” was of little or no value as burgh property, and was only an endless source of dispute amongst the fishermen; but these days of big herring boats it draws an annual rent of fully £15. There would seem, however, to have been some confusion of opinion to whom the harbour really belonged. The old charter, and the fact that, as in I819, the Town Council let the ground for curing herrings, clearly proved it to be the property of the burgh; but on the other hand the pier has been kept in repair by the Teind Committee as if the superior had the same right to the harbour as to the teinds. There was thus certain risk of the shore being lost to the fishermen and the the inhabitants generally, in time it would have been claimed by the tacksman of the teinds, who, for that matter, might be in direct opposition to them ; but happily any such untoward result has been prevented by the enlightened and public-spirited resolution of the Town Council, who, at the suggestion of Provost Martin, agreed at special meeting on Friday, to take possession of the ground as integral part of the burgh property. In some admirable remarks on the bounden duty of the Council to keep an ever watchful and jealous eye on the rights and privileges of the community, the Provost said that it would only be justice to the fishermen —after they had expended such a large sum on the maintenance of the harbour— to devote the rents of the ground in question to the same exclusive purpose, or to the improvement of the beach, in order to lessen the undue fatigue and exertion pulling up the boats. This very judicious proposal was also warmly assented to by the Council, and there is now every reason to hope that what might have been the fruitful source of heartburning and litigation, has been arranged to the lasting interest and advantage of the fishermen of Cellardyke and other inhabitants of the burgh.
1873
The Herring Fleet of 1873. —According to the preparations now so actively begun, the present season will see the largest herring, fleet ever sent afloat from the East of Fife. Cellardyke promises to contribute about 175 of the finest and largest boats to the Scottish herring squadron, and Pittenweem can muster over 50, while St Monance, that true spirit of progress which distinguishes her, soon will be able, if required, to send 105—making a total for the three stations of 335 first-class boats.
Artists in the East of Fife.—There are present many as five artists —including the distinguished landscape painter, Mr Samuel Bough, of Edinburgh—sketching various points of interest in the East of Fife. The favourite subject with all seems to be the romantic sea shore, where the busy fisher craft may be everywhere seen speeding along with dark, brown wings ; but the memorable and picturesque, wherever it may exist in the neighbourhood, is likely to have more or less of the attention of these interesting visitors.
The Harbour Works.—’The reconstruction of the eastern breakwater is now fairly in progress, and the ponderous diving bell belonging to the Fishery Board which was removed from the Anstruther works to make some repairs in the entrance of the Albert Dock at Leith, is once more in action, having been brought down the Forth in the trim fishing craft of Skipper Alexander Brown, of Cellardyke. The bell is about six tons in weight, and its removal or rather launch from the Board’s store to the dock crane for shipment till it was fairly ” housed” on the platform at Anstruther, was accomplished from first to last without single ” hitch.” No time has been lost in resuming deep water operations, and the divers are night and day work both by the bell and the apparatus in clearing away abed for the monster concrete blocks which are lying ready for submersion, while others are being moulded as fast strong and willing hands can overtake the interesting and important work. There are now about fifty men at the work, which is being superintended in every stage by Mr Philips, inspector, under the engineers of the Board.
Scarcity of Men for the Herring Fishery.— Besides our own hardy sons of St Peter, about thousand men are required for the herring boats of Cellardyke, Pittenweem, and St Monance. Not few of our Fife labourers and tradesmen are to be found so employed, but the large proportion of the men are Highlanders and Islesmen, with good sprinkling of the sons of St Patrick, who, to use a rather favourite saying, “like to tak’ a sea hold for the benefit of health and the purse.” In these days, however, of high wages, some may doubt the prudence of leaving work on shore for risk on the sea; but then, on the other hand, the prospects of the herring fishery were never so encouraging, and halfdealsmen especially had never the same chance of success as the present time. ” Och, its blessed relase from the slow of the factory, exclaimed an Irishman rejoicing one day in the fresh sea breeze, while many cautious Highlandman will tell you he buttons his pocket on the nine or ten sovereigns, or perhaps more, he may have earned by the season, ” It’s just a Godsend for the rent and the cauld winter,” and apart from mere gain we know many a decent and intelligent villager worn to the bone by the toil and sweat of the summer field or crushed and cramped by unhealthy labour, who has recruited for years both his strength and spirits ” by six weeks at the drave.” Under these circumstances, and with every expectation of an abundant season from the immense shoals descried at sea, there is little doubt that sufficient number of men will be forthcoming, though it is very much to be hoped that all that purpose to “reap the harvest of the sea” will, the season is early, be soon on the ground, and thus prevent any chance of delay and disappointment in filling up the berths.