1865
CELLARDYKE. The Late Boat Disaster
The total subscriptions for the sufferers by this calamity now amount to £338 1s. Captain Corstorphine of Pittowie has sent a cheque for five guineas, accompanied by the following letter, addressed to Messrs Sharp & Murray
Kingsbarns, 23rd June 1865.
Dear Sir, When a boat belonging to St Monans was lost on June 1863 I collected a fund for the education and outfit of about twenty children who were rendered destitute by that sad disaster. The judicious application of this money by the Rev Mr Foggo justifies me in contributing five guineas from the remaining balance towards the collection now being made at Cellardyke for a similar purpose, and which I hope may be no less instrumental in educating and advancing the many children now fatherless by this deplorable calamity.
1866
Capture ofTwo Sharks.—Off the coast during the last two or three days, the white fishing has been very productive, large takes of skate, ling, and cod having been made. Yesterday afternoon, one of the deep-sea fishing-boats brought to the harbour two monsters of the deep in the shape of brown sharks. The one measured from nine to ten feet in length, and the other, a formidable-looking creature, from twelve to thirteen feet. From ten to a dozen good-sized codlings were taken from the stomach the one, and a splendid halibut from that of the other. Both sharks were brought to Dundee and disposed of to a dealer, who will doubtless make a good profit by the disposal of the oil from both fish, and will also add a handsome addition to his gain by exhibiting the carcases of the ugly and voracious fish to those who have never seen a shark before. We believe that both of the sharks were taken by Cellardyke boats somewhere on the coast off Peterhead, and were not that they took the bait so far from land, we would advise bathers to beware, for the largest of the brutes taken yesterday would have thought no more of snapping at a man’s leg than it would of swallowing an ordinary sized codling.
1868
Exposure of Property.—On Saturday last, the small dwelling-house, with yard attached, at the west end of Cellardyke, belonging to the trustee on the bankrupt estate of Thomas Tarvit, fisherman there, was exposed for sale public auction in the Town Hall of Cellardyke. The property was put at the upset price of £120. which was successively reduced to £100, but no offer was received and the sale was adjourned sine die. In this, and in other cases, it would appear that the demand for property is decidedly on the decline in this neighbourhood, owing, no doubt, to the general depression which has followed the recent failure of the fishing.
1869
Local Fishing Fleet.— The number of fishing boats of all kinds registered under the provisions the Fisheries Act of last year, belonging to Cellardyke, including the few owned in Anstruther, is 176. Of these 26 are yawls of from two to five tons, and having a length of keel from fourteen to twenty four feet. The remainder represents the herring fishing fleet of the present season, with the addition of three four new ones not yet finished. These 150 boats are from fifteen to twenty tons, and have a length of from thirty-three to forty-seven feet. There are fifty-one first-class boats which the Act defines to be those of fifteen tons and upwards.
Valuable Ground. —On Saturday last the vacant ground the beach of Cellardyke harbour was let by public auction for boat stances, for the ensuing year. The ground belongs to the superior of the burgh, but the tacksmen of the Teinds have the right to occupy and sublet it, although this the first time it has been done- so publicly, the stances having hitherto been taken by the first comers and paid for almost at will, some paying 15s for the season, and some nothing at all. The ground affords room for four stances with the probability of a fifth. There was a large attendance and from the first the bidding was keen and general. The first stance was thought by some to extravagantly high at 57s, but the other three rose to 60s each.
Sudden Death.-A melancholy instance of uncertainty of life occurred at Cellardyke on Tuesday last in the case of Mrs Murray, the respected mother of Mr David Murray, the well-known manufacturer and merchant. Mrs Murray had been in her usual health, and was engaged in some household duties, when in the course the forenoon she went over to a neighbour’s and complained of passing giddiness. She immediately afterwards sank into insensibility, when she was conveyed to her own house and medical attendance sent for, but although every care and attention was bestowed on the aged sufferer, she never rallied, and expired in the course the afternoon. In the opinion of Dr Macarthur death had resulted from disease of the heart. Mrs Murray was well advanced in life, and had been for several years widow, her husband, Mr Thomas Murray, having long acted as one of the managers of the burgh. She was connected with some of the oldest and most respected families in Cellardyke and she occupied a high place in the esteem and affection the community.