1845
The sloop Trio, Anderson, of Arbroath, left Montrose on Saturday week, with a cargo of wood for the Firth of Forth, which she had gained on the following evening and, whether in consequence of bad lookout or not, she was the same night struck by the Eclipse, of Dundee, heavily laden, for Montreal. Her starboard-side was consequence stove and the crew, thinking her sinking state, went on board the brig, and were landed at Cellardyke. The Trio was discovered on Monday morning, and taken possession of by a Newhaven boat’s crew, a little to the south-east of the Isle of May. She was brought safely into Leith, very little worse.
1847
Miraculous Preservation. —About five o’clock on the morning of Thursday week, while a boat belonging to Broughty Ferry, and another belonging to Cellardyke, were passing No. 5 Buoy in the river Tay, they observed the topmast of a vessel; and, on their nearing, they, to their astonishment, found the body of a man made fast to the rigging. They immediately proceeded to take the body out, and brought it to Dundee, when it was recognised to be that of James Jack, master and owner of the sloop Altnaskiach of Pittenweem, which had struck upon the Elbow End, and drifted up and sunk. In the course of the day, while all were of one opinion in regard to the fate of the crew (five in number), word arrived in town that the boy, James Jack, nephew of the captain, had been saved, and had arrived at Pittenweem. From him, it was ascertained that, about half-past ten clock on Wednesday night, when taking the river, they lost the lights, and the vessel struck; that the sea breaking over her; and, while they were in the act of loosing the boat from off the deck, a sea struck her, and he and all the rest of the crew, as supposed, were washed overboard. Fortunately, he got hold of the ladder, which was swept off at the same time; and, getting his legs inside of the steps, he was buffeted about upon this frail support for five hours, until, about half-past three o’clock in the morning he descried a boat, and got them to notice him; when he was relieved from his most dreadful position, quite unconscious of the fate of his uncle, and the others on board.
In the meantime, Captain Davidson of the brig Jessie, who was very’ intimate with Captain Jack, took charge of the corpse; and the young man was so far recovered as to be able to come over to Dundee next day—when a coffin having been made, and all things arranged, the body was conveyed home to Pittenweem. We have not heard yet if any of the crew have been found. We may mention that, when the body of Captain Jack was found, he had his watch and upwards of £4 on his person; and the watch was stopped twenty minutes past twelve o’clock—being nearly two hours after the young man was swept off the deck: so we suppose the captain had taken to the rigging at that time, namely, half-past ten, and had remained there until the vessel sunk, at the time indicated by the watch. Warder.
1848
Mr. Sharp, farmer, Newton, of Kiltrean, has in his possession small Highland pony, whose history is certainly somewhat extraordinary. This beautiful little animal was first brought from Orkney to Cellardyke, in Fifeshire, a fishing boat. He was purchased by Mr. Sharp’s late father, by whom he was much used as riding pony for many years ; next by his son who is 45 years younger ; afterwards his grandchildren, the youngest of whom is 85 years younger ; and lastly by his great-grand-daughter, who is 107 years younger. The most remarkable circumstance connected with this pony is, that notwithstanding his extreme age, he still lively and vigorous, and could trot at the rate of ten miles hour, on good road, with ease. The late Lord President Hope, in 1822, informed friend of mine that he had then a horse forty-six years old ; still, I question if this famous charger ever attained the age of little Donald, or performed the same service four generations.—
1849
The Attempt to teach the Highlanders to Fish. — The boats which were sent from Cellardyke by the Highland Destitution Board to fish at the West Highlands have not been as yet very successful: indeed, they have been but seldom at sea, owing to the fierce and stormy state of the weather, and those few attempts have been made principally for the purpose of exploring the fishing grounds, a circumstance absolutely necessary for the prosecution of the fishing. The express object of this mission, as everyone knows, was to teach the inhabitants, men and women, the art of fishing successfully, so that they may not become a burden to the country, if such dire times should again visit our land as but very recently befell it. But, with shame to the West Highlanders be it told — all the attempts of the board to make them industrious and efficient members of society are rendered utterly futile from their obstinate refusal to become instructed in the art. They have been offered 10s. per week, and a part of the proceeds of the fishing, but even this tempting offer has been rejected with scorn.
Extraordinary Birth.—On Wednesday week, Mrs Robertson, wife of James Robertson, m-n, Cellardyke, gave birth three children, females. The children are all alive and in a healthy state. Cellardyke has been long famed for its possessing a preponderance of males over females; but nature appears now to be beginning to make reparation for its former delinquencies, by throwing the balance in the opposite scale, which is the best.
1850
Betty Nicol, the Benevolent Cellardyke Witch—One of the principal achievements of Betty, which gained for her the character of being in league with the Evil One runs this: During a Lammas Drave, about thirty years ago, the boats returned day after day, without catching anything ; the spirits the men were sinking, and gloomy forebodings were rife among the fishermen of the Dyke. Betty heard what was going on, and went to the wife of a fisherman to advise her about the impending calamity. I will tell you what to do,” said Betty, “just follow my advice, and yell get plenty o’ fish.” Betty took a halfpenny from her pocket, and spat the one side and then on the other, with becoming gravity. “Now,” said Betty. “Put that bawbee into your man’s right boot afore he gang out to the fishing, and my name’s no Betty Nicol if come toom handed.” The woman followed Betty’s directions, and it turned out she predicted, the boat came home laden with fish, —each man had L.7 for that nights deal, and no other boat caught single herring. The fisher who relates this story, and into whose hoot the halfpenny was put, is living at Cellardyke at this day.
1852
Emigration from Cellardyke.—In addition to the number of emigrants mentioned in our last (says the Pittenweem News Letter), we understand there are no less than sixteen fishermen preparing to leave this town for Australia. Whether they intend to follow the occupation they have been accustomed to, on landing in that country, or apply themselves to the “diggins,” we have not learned, but it is certainly an uncommon thing for fishermen to emigrate, especially in such numbers.
1857
The equanimity of our ”oldest inhabitant” was last week agreeably disturbed the unusual success of our boats. On Friday there were about thirty boats at sea, and of those that returned that evening the take of fish (white) varied from 4000 to 6000 – one boat landed fully the latter number —but the average would be about 5000, and chiefly of a large size. This immense capture of large fish, chiefly haddocks, may appear incredible to our inland friends, but the statement of a few facts, not very generally known, may tend to dissipate their incredulity. In each boat there are eight men. Each man has his line consisting of fifteen “(taes) or (ties?), each “tae” sixty fathoms long, and has attached it 120 hooks. Each man the fleet thus fishes with a line of 900 fathoms, or rather more than a mile in length, having upon it 1800 well baited hooks. Each boat’s crew join their lines together, and when they are shot lines of each boat extend over a space of sea upwards of eight miles with 1800 hooks at less than a fathom apart. The whole fleet of thirty boats, containing 240 men, thus fish with a line having attached to 54,000 hooks, and covering a space of sea extending upwards of 240 miles. The “deep sea fishing” at this season is prosecuted at a great distance from land. On Friday last the fish were taken at 70 miles distance, and in 45 fathom’s depth of water. The partially decked boats lately introduced are found very conducive to the comfort of our hardy and enterprising fishermen.
1858
The fame the herring fishing boats of Wick build has of late years been so extending that a considerable number have been built for distant stations. Within the last few days, four magnificent boats have been launched and despatched to such distant destinations—two to the neighbourhood of Fraserburgh, one to near Montrose, and the other to Cellardyke. It is believed that should the fishing turn out well, the character of these boats will ensure a spirited winter of it at Wick in building new boats for the opposite coast.