1910

Bakers van for sale, almost new, apply William Birrell, Baker, Cellardyke

PATENT CANVAS BUOYS.

THE FIRST. THE BEST,

Made off Cotton Canvas of the best quality material, manufactured under the personal supervision of the Patentee and lnventor, who, after years of experience, can offer with confidence the only reliable PATENT CANVAS NET BUOY. . .

Manufactured at CELLARDYKE OILSKIN FACTORY,

31 – 39, JAMES STEET, CELLARDYKE, FIFE.

Telegrams —Cellardyke Factory. Telephone No.22

N.B.-We hold Large stocks round or Square

1911

CELLARDYKE FISHERMAN DROWNED OFF THE MAY ISLAND.

Robert Moncrieff, the acting skipper of the Cellardyke herring boat, Guiding Star, KY.677, stepped ashore at Montrose on Thursday night last week to dispatch home the mournful news that John Moncrieff, a member of the crew, had been lost at the fishing grounds in the small hours of the morning. The night was pitch dark, with a steadily freshening breeze blowing off the land, and the sea rising. At two o’clock those on board were shifting the net, about four miles E.N.E. off the May Island, when Moncrieff was suddenly missed. The Guiding Star was heaving a bit, and each man was engrossed at his own particular task.

Moncrieff was working aft, and it is supposed that had been reaching over the stem to get the rope over the end of the mizzen boom when he overbalanced himself and fell into the sea. He was neither seen nor heard, and in the blackness of the night his mates were powerless to do anything. Deceased was highly-respected man, about 46 years of age, and leaves a widow and four of a family, residing at Cellardyke.

The Guiding Star came north before the breeze, and was brought into Montrose with difficulty. Her signal for a tug could not be responded to, there being now no towage facilities at the harbour, and the idea of utilising the lifeboat was mooted, the passage of the bar being invested with not a little danger. The Ferryden fishermen, however, went off in one of their skiffs and assisted the Fifers to get inside the river. Once there a rope was taken ashore, and the Guiding Star was hauled along the riverside in the teeth of a boisterous south-west gale. The members of the crew were somewhat fatigued after their thrilling experience.

CELLARDYKE. Scarcity of Water. —For some time back the community of Cellardyke have suffered through the water failing to rise certain portions of the town. For the last month the water has been shut off daily from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. The cause of this is not the want of a sufficient supply, but owing the smallness of the pipes. This matter was before the Town Council some time ago, and the Council agreed at that time to enlarge the pipes, and were about to proceed with the work when the Local Government Board called the representatives of the various Councils along the coast burghs to a conference in Edinburgh, where joint scheme for the whole of the burghs was proposed. Owing to this, Cellardyke have been unable to proceed with their own proposed scheme. Matters have, however, become so serious that a special meeting of the Council has been held, at which it was resolved call upon the Local Government Board to fulfil their promise without delay, or the Council would proceed at once with their proposals enlarging their pipes, &c. At the meeting, over which Provost Black presided, the whole of the members expressed their opinion that the matter could longer be delayed. Not only was the state of matters a great cause annoyance and inconvenience, but it was also pointed out that should fire break out or an epidemic set in, a serious state of affairs would result. Eventually the Clerk was instructed to ask the Local Government Board to act without delay. The Clerk was further instructed to ask the Local Government Board if they would either send a man down at once to the town, or receive deputation.

1913

FIFE FISHING VESSELS IN DIFFICULTIES. Proof was led at length at Cupar yesterday —before Sheriff Armour Hannay—in two salvage actions. Mr T. D. Murray, Anstruther, was for the pursuer, and Mr James Brown, Anstruther (Messrs McIntosh & Watson) for the defenders.

James Hutt, fisherman, St Monans; Chapman Innes, St Monans; and Elizabeth Davidson Hutt, Markinch, registered owners of the steam drifter Lizzie Hutt, ML. 122, sued John Watson, fisherman, Cellardyke, the owner of the steam drifter Pride of Fife, KY, for £430 for services rendered on Sept. 4 at Eyemouth in a westerly gale.

The Pride, it was contended, was in danger of being wrecked on the Hettle Scar Rocks. The Harbourmaster of Eyemouth said that Mr Davidson was a very well-pleased mail when he got safely into harbour. The value of the vessel was about £2200.

The other action was for £70 for the salvage of the fishing boat Guide Me, skipper and owner Wm. Davidson. Davidson said his boat was worth £350, and he was three-fourths insured. He was satisfied that the Lizzie Hutt saved his craft from destruction and probably loss of life. The debate on the evidence was fixed for Tuesday, 25th inst.

1914

Fishermen and National Insurance

SKIPPER AND PERSEVERANCE. Martin Gardiner, Forth Street, Cellardyke, said the skipper of a boat engaged his crew. Witness paid no “arles” in engaging his crew. After certain expenses had been deducted from the gross earnings the balance was divided into shares, one-third going to the ship, a third to the crew, and third the nets. The food bill off the fishermen’s share and the nets’ share. In the event of deficit the crew had to pay their share. In the great line fishing in which everyone had a share of the gear. It was share and share alike. If there were a deficit, of £21 and seven drew each member of the crew would have to make up. He could give a case that happened the line fishing last year. There was loss, each man being 15s in debt. The same crew were shipped to the Yarmouth fishing, and each man made up the 16s. He had never had an instance of a loss where any of the men on board owned no gear. The skipper had power to dismiss a man who was not qualified or was guilty of bad behaviour. He had not, however, so great powers over crew as had the skipper of merchant ship. In the fishing the crew took a great deal of say in regard to where the nets should be shot.

By the Solicitor-General —He and his brother were co-owners of boat. He had never had a case where the half-deals men made up loss. It was very seldom in Cellardyke that they had loss. In Fifeshire 4-10ths to the boat, 3-10ths for the nets, and 3-10ths for the crew was a common arrangement of sharing the earnings on drifters. It was generally the co-owners who put in the nets in Fifeshire. He did not recollect time when the hired men were paid by fixed wages.

There is deal of luck fishing, is there not?—l don’t believe in luck. (Laughter.)

I suppose you have been always lucky ?—I have been very fortunate. (Laughter.)

You believe, I suppose, the skill of the skipper —I believe in perseverance and plenty of good pear. (Laughter.)

And also skill in knowing when to shoot and how shoot?— Yes.

Lord Mackenzie—l suppose the man who has nets longest in the water will get most fish» —No, my lord. (Laughter.)

Mackenzie—That is true about the rod (Laughter.)

Orkney Herald, and Weekly Advertiser and Gazette for the Orkney & Zetland Islands – Wednesday 18 March 1914

THE SCOTTISH LAND COURT. ASSIGNMENT OF BURRAY CROFT. In an application made by Hugh Mackay, Little Cellardyke. Burray, for leave to assign the holding of Little Cellardyke, Burray, to his nephew, Robt. Mackay Guthrie, the applicant, in his statement of acts states that he is a statutory small landholder occupying the holding of Little Cellardyke on the island of Burray. The area of the holding is 51 acres, and the present rent £1 5s, which was fixed by the Crofters Commission by order dated 11th July 1891 Applicant is 76 years of age, and owing to awl and infirmity is unable to work – the holding. He has no family of his own, and desires to assign the tenancy of the holding to his nephew, who resides with him at Little Cellardyke The Land Court have now issued the following order:

Edinburgh. 12th March 1 14.—The Land Court having considered this application subscribed by the applicant and the intended assignee, along with answers for the respondent marked A/1526 Find that the assignment craved is reasonable and proper : Therefore grant leave to the applicant, Hugh Mackay, Little Cellardyke, Burray, Orkney, to assign the holding possessed by him under the Small Landholders (Scotland) Acts, 1886-1911, at Little Cellardyke, Burray, aforesaid, described in the application, to his nephew, Robert Mackay Guthrie, residing with him at Little Cellardyke. Burray aforesaid, as at and from the term of Martinmas nineteen hundred and thirteen, or such other term of entry as the parties may agree upon, to be held by the said Robert Mackay Guthrie in like manner as a landholder under the said Acts.

Orkney Herald, and Weekly Advertiser and Gazette for the Orkney & Zetland Islands – Wednesday 17 February 1892

ASSAULT AND BREACH OF THE PEACE AT BURRAY. —A t the Orkney Sheriff Court, Kirkwall, on Monday, before Sheriff Armour, Andrew Nowland, travelling tinker, of no fixed place of residence, was brought up in custody and charged with having committed a breach of the peace at the farm premises of Cellardyke, Burrey, in the occupation of James Bruce, crofter, on the 27th of January last. He was further charged with having assaulted John Bruce, fisherman, at the same time and place. The prisoner, against whom a number of previous convictions were libelled, pled guilty, and urged that he had experienced great provocation. He was sentenced to 60 days’ imprisonment with hard labour.