1862
GOURDON.—Some idea may be formed of the profitableness of the deep sea fishing when we state that about £200 was, last week, paid to the crews of ten Cellardyke and Gourdon boats for their takes.
1863
James Skinner, grocer, Cellardyke, was fined £.2. 5s, and 15s of expenses, for having deficient weights in his possession, on the 13th May last.
1864
CELLARDYKE. Harbour Improvements. – The increase in the fishing trade here within the last few years has made the provision of adequate shelter and accommodation for the boats a question of deep importance. But lately the fishing fleet amounted to only ten twenty five feet yawls, now there are forty of the finest boats on the East Coast of Scotland. About 33 years ago, ”Skinfasthaven” as it was then called, was enlarged and improved, but the harbour is still unsafe from storms and too limited in extent. In order to remedy this, a dangerous ledge of rock, known as the “Buss” is immediately to be excavated from the fairway, and the stones applied to making slip on the beach, for landing and drawing up the boats. For these improvements our fishermen are much indebted to the kindness Alex. Rodger, Esq. of Glasgow, who takes great interest in the welfare of his native town. The proposed Union Harbour will not, we expect, be commenced before next year, a delay owing to a cry for an extension of Anstruther Harbour. It must be remembered, however, that if the boats increase in number as they have done of late, another enlargement would soon be necessary, and besides, is possible that a class of vessels like the Alexandra may ere long be stationed here. Under these circumstances our fishermen prefer to wait, meanwhile doing what they can for the success of an undertaking which will benefit succeeding generations.
1865
There no doubt that the large fishing boat, Helen, of Cellardyke, which was owned by the skipper, Mr Henry Bett, and which sailed with the rest of the fleet from Anstruther harbour about two o’clock on Monday morning week for the fishing ground, has been lost, along with her crew, eight in number. The Arbroath correspondent of the Scotsman says: The schooner Charm, of Arbroath, J. Bremner, master, while on her passage from London to Arbroath, and when about fifteen miles from Tynemouth Castle, bearing about west by south, came last Sunday morning upon a fishing-line end, to which were attached five bladders, one of them being marked “T. Brown, R.” – the name of one of the crew of the Helen. It was picked up and has since been identified by the brothers of the skipper of the missing boat.”
The names of the unfortunate crew, with the number of their families, are as follows: – Henry Bett, leaves a widow and four children; Thomas Brown, leaves a widow and two children; Andrew Robertson, leaves a widow and six children; Thomas Wood, leaves a widow and three children; Daniel Fleming, leaves widow and two children; Francis Montidore, unmarried; Thomas Muir, do., Thomas Reid, do.
Much sympathy is especially expressed for the mother of the latter, as her trials have been remarkably severe. She been twice married, and both of her husbands have been drowned, as likewise a son by the first marriage ; and by the disaster which we have just related, in addition to her son, she has lost two sons-in-law.
In the beginning of the week Messrs Sharp and Murray, the well-known general merchants, convened a number of the fishermen to consider what was most advisable to be done for the relief of the sufferers, when it was agreed to have subscription lists printed and circulated for that purpose. This has accordingly been done, and we understand that the appeal is likely meet with a universal response. By the calamity five wives and eighteen children have been deprived of husbands and fathers, and all of the latter, save the case of Andrew Robertson’s family, three or four of whom are able to provide for themselves, one daughter being married, are so young as to be entirely helpless. In the end of the last week Mr Thomas Bett, brother of the skipper of the missing boat, sailed into Arbroath with his boat for the purpose instituting inquiries relative to the fate the crew, Mr Bett identified the articles which the crew of the schooner reported they had found floating about fifteen miles in the offing of Tynemouth. Mr Bett was likewise informed that the crew of a Copenhagen smack had broken two grappling irons on Friday the 12th inst., in the unsuccessful endeavour to recover large fishing boat which was filled with water, and that state they found floating about a hundred miles to the eastward of the Isle of May. Front he description the foreigners gave of the boat, it is reasonably concluded she was the unfortunate Helen.
1867
Margaret Stewart, daughter of, and residing with, Ann Smith or Stewart, Cellardyke, was charged with having, on the 3rd of May, and within the house in Cellardyke occupied by Ann Smith or Stewart, committed a breach of the peace, and also with having used threatening language towards two Sheriff-officers while the discharge of their duty within said house. She pleaded guilty to the charge of breach of the peace, and was sentenced to pay a fine of 15s, or to suffer fourteen days’ imprisonment.
1868
The Harbour Barometer.—We understand that the Board Trade, in compliance with the application of John Martin, Esq, Chief Manager of the burgh of Kilrenny, to that effect, has issued instructions to remove the barometer which was supplied by the Board of Fishery from its present site near Anstruther harbour to Cellardyke, where it is to be erected on the east wall of Messrs Sharp & Murray’s premises adjoining the west pier. Since being gifted to the locality, now several years ago, this barometer has been much and deservedly appreciated by the fishermen and others.