1890
The Lammas herring fishing at Anstruther has been the poorest on record, but the Cellardyke boats which were engaged at Fraserburgh, Peterhead, and Aberdeen have done well. Some 120 of these boats are now prosecuting the fishing off Scarborough, Yarmouth, and Lowestoft, with every prospect of success, and is hoped this will neutralise the poor returns obtained at home.
1891
About six o’clock yesterday morning, as Charles Tulloch, labourer, residing in Lodge Walk, was walking along the south bank of the River Dee, discovered the dead body a man lying in a foot of water about fifty yards south the Victoria Bridge. The body was at once removed to the Police Office, Torry, here was identified as that of David Corstorphine (50), fisherman belonging to Cellardyke. On the previous night the unfortunate man had been in town along with some companions, and is supposed he had been returning to his lodgings along the river bank, when owing to the slippery nature of the ground had missed his footing and fallen in, and had been unable to extricate himself from the mud. The deceased came to town about fortnight ago, and had been engaged as fisherman on board a steam fishing boat. Dr Robertson, examining the body, found that life had been extinct for some hours.
1892
Rescue from Drowning.— On Saturday, while some children were playing on board the boats in the inner harbour, one of them, a boy of seven years, son of Mr Alex. Fraser, shoemaker, Cellardyke, fell into the water. His companions gave the alarm, and fisherman, named George Anderson, West Anstruther, immediately leaped in after him. With some trouble, caused by the struggles of the child, he swam to the side of the boats, where others relieved him of his charge. Fraser was unconscious, but was speedily brought round. Anderson was none the worse, but he deserves great praise for his promptitude, and it to hoped the affair will not be allowed to rest here and suitable recognition made for his gallant conduct, this is the seventh life he has saved within four years.
1895
Locally nothing is done at fishing in the meantime beyond few yawls employed on the inshore ground, which get 2 to 5 boxes of haddocks per shot. Prices—9s per box. The bulk of the crews are fishing on the east coast of England, a few are at Islay, and 90 Cellardyke and Pittenweem men are employed steam liners.
1896
EAST OF FIFE FISHING NOTES. UNPRECEDENTED ACHIEVEMENTS BY THE LINERS. All else in fishing circles this week is dwarfed beside the splendid doings of the fleet of steam liners, which are manned by the Cellardyke crews. They have in a wholesale fashion given an illustration of the possibilities of steam, skill, and fortune. The last two elements have always been regarded as indispensable to successful fishing, but the first-named is now seen to be also an invaluable aid. Last Monday all the steamers were early away, and the pace was kept up during all that day. The dip for bait was attended with success, and by Wednesday several of them had reported in English ports. They got their chance, and, improving upon it, put to the credit of the Fife boats the highest fishing which has ever been coupled with that of any fleet of vessels from one port. The County of Fife had pride of place with a coveted total of £179. Skipper Henderson in doing this has only capped a series of splendid hauls during the past five weeks, the average earnings of the liner being £103. The Anster Fair had £127. the East Neuk £123, Copley £110, Maggie. £110, Kellie Castle £82, Tennant £77, White Cross £76, Isle of May and St Adrian £71, Glenogil £65,Edith £62, and Rob £41. The average for whole runs about £91, a figure never before touched, and forming, in the words of the age, a record week. There has been a fair start this week, the telegrams reading—Kellie, £48 ; East Neuk, £58 ; Maggie, £41; Edith, £29 ; and Copley, £39. The weather which caused the scarcity of fish, and so enabled the liners to sell in so good a market, was against the sailing boats. They have done little during the past week, scanty news coming from Scarborough, where most of them are congregated. The boats bound for Yarmouth are now settled down, and it-is hoped they will all meet a substantial return for their enterprise.
1898
John Gardiner part owner of the fishing boat Maggie Scott No 27 at present fishing out of Scarborough, has been drowned. The vessel put into West Hartlepool a week ago, and the crew, with the exception of John Gardiner, attended an entertainment town, and, returning missed Gardiner, who was not seen again. On Tuesday crew received intimation that his body had been found in the water. Gardiner belonged Cellardyke.