1832
The Cholera – At Cellardyke. we understand two cases occurred on Sunday, which have both terminated fatally, and another individual, it is said has since been taken ill.
1834
On the 14th inst, a boats mainsail, was picked up at sea opposite Slaines castle near Peterhead.
The owner will receive it back by applying to James Anderson, Boat skipper, Cellardyke.
1844
The Brothers of Cellardyke, James Murray master has this year been the most successful boat employed in the herring fishery on the wick station having reached on the 22nd ultimo, the amount of 349 crans in fourteen shots.
‘Seldom has there been such an irregular fishing as this year, for some boats do not exceed 20 crans, others range from 200 – 349’
1847
Storm – on land, about Buckhaven and Cellardyke , several houses were unroofed, and hayricks were scattered before the wind.
1851
Gale at Wick – The loss of nets was considerable. One Cellardyke crew lost 17. A great many others 1 to 12.
1852
Agnes Tarvit or Meldrum, a widow, residing in Cellardyke, was charged with striking Janet Henderson or Wallace several severe blows on the head with a coffee-pot, whereby her head was cut to such an extent that the wound had to be sewed. She pleaded guilty and was fined the sum of 10s or in the event of her not paying the fine suffer 20 days imprisonment
1854
The 105 Cellardyke boats fishing at home this season up till Saturday he 26th..have averaged 200 crans and for the 215 boats in the district the average is 160 crans; and not a few boats are above 300 crans. They have got very high prices throughout for their fish; in fact all the fishermen are astonished at the prices they have got here this season, so that appears folly in men to go so far from home, as some of them do, to another fishing station. Some curers have sold their stocks here and bought cured fish to fill their craft, at 20s per barrel for gutted and 12s for ungutted.. There has been a sad outcry for room to cure and store up cured fish on. The streets are crowded from end to end with barrels and there is curing going on beyond West Anstruther, and a good lot on Pittenweem Road
Estimated cost of the railway line running from Leven to Anstruther £5000 per mile or £60 000 in total. It is proposed raise shares of £10 each.. It is estimated the gross revenue from goods and passenger traffic would amount to £7500 per annum, the working and other expenses £3350 and the net revenue to £4200, or about 7% of the estimated capital
1855
On Monday evening last a party of seven fishermen left Cellardyke for Fifeness in a yawl to pursue the herring fishery; and, as the take was very considerable the boat got so heavily loaded that the gunwale was only about six inches from the surface of the water. Early next morning they proceeded homewards with a stiff breeze from the west. Knowing the danger owing to the heavy roll of the sea, they adopted every precaution, keeping near the shore they gave out as little sail as possible. When about midway between Fifeness and Crail a squall coming up the firth filled the sail and the boat instantly capsized and sank, throwing the men into the water. Parties on the shore who had witnessed the disaster, immediately dispatched a boat to the rescue of the unfortunate sufferers, but, ere they reached the spot, six of them had sunk to rise no more. The remaining one was picked up in a very exhausted state, but, by the application of restoratives, he soon recovered. Most of the men have left widows and children to mourn their loss.
1862
Alexander Trail, a carter residing at Cellardyke was accused of having on the night of the 6th or morning of the 7th ult, assaulted David Henderson Toll keeper Anstruther. Trail pled not guilty, and was defended by Mr C Welch, writer Cupar. Evidence having been heard the charge was clearly proven and sentenced the panel to pay 30s or 20 days imprisonment.
1864
Street brawls
It was beginning to be the subject of congratulation with the inhabitants that the town was likely to be spared this season from the disgraceful night brawling and fighting which were of such frequent occurrence while the herring fishing was in progress in former years. But on Saturday this hope was all but dissipated.. …. The east Green and Rodger Street were especially the scenes of much noise and disorder which required the most active and strenuous exertions of the Police officers, assisted by the special constables to supress them,, nor was peace restored until two of the ringleaders had been secured in the lock up…. Some disturbance was also caused in Cellardyke by the apprehension of James Haggart a labourer residing there who attempted to resist the constables, but he was soon overpowered and conveyed to the lock up where he was confined until Monday morning when he was taken to Cupar and was summarily tried for the assault he had committed on a young woman, to which he pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 20s or 15 days imprisonment.
Burgh Court
Charged with breach of the peace
Joseph Lind, Alex McKay, Angus MacLeod, Alexander Beaton, Duncan McVicker, John Mckinnes – Half dealsmen,
William McGauchie, Baker, Cellardyke – breach of the peace and assault,
1865
Adverts for East Neuk of Fife Photographic Studio, Cellardyke
12 Cartes de Visite Portraits for 2s 8d or 6 for 1s 8d
Send Carte de Visite and 32 stamps, and perfect copies will be returned within 14 days.
J Porter Cellardyke
1866
Yesterday morning a very narrow escape was made by the Stork NO 10 a herring boat from Auchmithie, Skipper David Shepherd. It seems that between 3 and 4 in the morning, that boat had been lying about 15 miles off the Redhead, the crew began hauling their nets when she was struck in the right bow by another fishing boat, and a leak thus made at least a foot square. The crew on getting clear set part of their strength to haul the nets, whilst others at once did their utmost to stop the leak with old sails and clothing, and some wrought hard at the pumps……. The boat that ran into the Stork could not be seen in the dark so that the number could not be ascertained, the crew refusing to give it, and the only clue as to who caused the disaster was that the crew from the Stork think it was a Cellardyke boat from the dialect of the men that spoke…
1868
Andrew Wilson, Fisherman Cellardyke has been apprehended and lodged in Cupar prison, on a charge of alleged cruelty to two of his children, aged 11 and 13. The Police had received notice on Saturday evening from Wilson’s neighbours that the two children had been sadly maltreated by their father; and on the Policeman inspecting the house on Sunday, he found them both cooped up in a wooden crib almost naked, and their backs all black or discoloured from ill usage. On the case being reported to Cupar a warrant was immediately issued for Wilson’s prehension.
A smart staunch looking fishing vessel, on an entirely new principle has just been completed by Mr John Millar, boat builder Cellardyke, for Captain Macdougal, North Shields. She is a decked craft of the following dimensions; – 45feet long on the keel, 48 feet over all, 14 feet across the bilge (her broadest part) and 8 feet depth of hold; her measurement being 21 tons register. The vessel we understand, has been designed by and built under the direction of Captain Macdougal himself, who intends to employ her in the fishing according to the season on the coast of Northumberland. She has the long graceful lines and general outline of the Firth Fishing boats, but she differs essentially from them having her greatest breadth not as in their case at the gunwale or beam but at the bilge. We cannot give a better idea of this than stating that an ordinary fishing boat of the same length as the new vessel would measure fully three feet more over the gunwale, but rather less over the bilge. According to a well-known principle the somewhat cylindrical form which has been given to the hull will add much to its buoyancy, and enable the ship to stand up well to her canvas in a breeze of wind. The principle has indeed much to recommend it, although most of the ‘old salts’ may be disposed to favour that description of craft as being at once the most safe and weatherly, which, in many familiar phrase ‘keeps the gunwale’ the safety of the crew- who will be eight in number- when working the ship, is so far provided for by means of a low bulwark, while their comfort will be fully secured in two roomy cabins which have been fitted up as sleeping berths. She is to be smack rigged, with a jigger abaft, and by an ingenious contrivance the main mast can be lowered away in order that the vessel may ride easier in rough weather, or when lying at her nets.
1869
At this season fully a thousand men in addition to the native fishermen are required to man the boats from Cellardyke and St Monance. Many of the inhabitants of the district try their fortune as halfdealsmen, but generally speaking these are drawn from the Highlands or it may be from the Emerald Isle, and as may be expected from so large an influx of strangers especially of that class who are supposed to be most readily brought under the influence of drink, the peace of the locality has been often and seriously disturbed by them.. This year however, scarcely a brawl has been heard on the streets and although a few individuals have been in a tipsy state, yet as a whole the neighbourhood has been as quiet as if no addition had taken place to the usual indwellers. This is to some extent explained by the long absence of the boats in the North, and also, and that materially, the poor success of many crews. Undoubtedly the chief cause is the convenience afforded by the railway, steamer and coach for leaving the quarter immediately the season has closed. This is a great advantage of former years when the men had to wait for days before they could find an opportunity for leaving for their homes, and, with the time on their hands, and with so many of their acquaintances about them they were so readily tempted with excess and riot,