1905
FISHING REPORTS,
ANSTRUTHER. The very successful start which the fishing had in the middle of last week was continued on Friday, when the large fleet of 89 boats entered the harbour, including three from Inverness, three from Peterhead, and about a score from the Aberdeen and Montrose districts. The best shot of 24 crans was landed by a Pittenweem boat, and the average catch was four crans……. The good fishing gave a very busy appearance to the piers and also in Shore Street, and the cart traffic to the station was also brisk for a time. The Railway Company sent off 33 waggons in two special trains. Unfortunately in the afternoon, a strong gale from the north-west sprang up, and the most of the crews did net venture off. Fully a dozen took the risk, and on Saturday thirteen boats landed 52 crans, or four of an average. The first arrivals get 52s per cran, and the later over 33s for fresh and 20s for overdays.
The fishermen intended to have gone off to the fishing at an early hour on Monday morning, and several of the smaller craft went to Elie to enable them to get out quicker, the inner harbour of Anstruther being very crowded. A severe gale made this impossible and the boats had to lie in the harbour until the afternoon when all got away with a favourable wind. Unfortunately, there was a renewal of the gale throughout the night, and very few of the boats reached the harbour by the morning tide. In the afternoon about half of the fleet arrived, and made the harbour with some difficulty. One Cellardyke boat, the Reliance, struck the concrete pier with some force, and damaged her stem, necessitating a new one being put in. A Peterhead boat ran ashore on the east beach, and also suffered some damage. ….
SCOTTISH BANKRUPTS. (From Last Night’s Edinburgh Gazette.) Meetings. Alexander Cathro grocer. James Street. Cellardyke, carrying on business there under the name Cathro & Company. To be held at twelve on Friday, 20th January, the Commercial Hotel, Anstruther.
FISHERMEN “HECKLERS.” CAPTAIN ELLICE AT CELLARDYKE.
RETALIATION AND THE HERRING TRADE.
Continuing his tour the Anstruther district, Captain Ellice addressed a public meeting of fishermen in Cellardyke Town Hall on Saturday evening. There was an attendance about thirty. Ex-Provost Thomson presided. The Captain first of all spoke of the number of questions which had been dealt with during the last session Parliament relating fishermen. There was the question of the Norwegian fishermen in the Moray Firth, and after being investigated it was found that in reality these fishermen belonged to Grimsby. The Government had taken some action in the matter of illegal trawling. He had strong feelings about the trawling questions, because there was a law that prohibited trawlers fishing within the three-mile limit. They were in reality poachers, and there were police for land poachers the Government should capture these poachers of the sea. (Applause.) A Bill had been introduced by Scottish members to regulate the whaling industry in Shetland, but this had been blocked. A Commission reported on the matter, and he hoped something would be done next session. (Applause.)
FISHERMEN AND FISCAL REFORM. Touching the fiscal question, the Captain said the more it was discussed the better the chances of the Liberal party winning the next general election. He had never been able get a single fisherman to tell him in what way Chamberlain’s policy would benefit him. The success of the fisherman depended on him being able to buy his boats, gear, food in the cheapest market, and also to obtain the best price for his herrings. Mr Balfour’s proposal was retaliation. How would it affect the herring trade? The fishermen had absolutely nothing to gain, and were certain to lose. Retaliation practically came to this:- “lf you don’t turn Free Traders we will become Protectionists. Germany, for instance, says Very well, you begin.” We put a tax on German steel and iron goods, and they retaliate by putting a duty on fresh herrings, the only thing that not already taxed. He had been told that the price would originally fall on the consumer, but the price of the herrings would only become prohibitive, and the consumer would naturally buy Norwegian herrings. A scheme of retaliation would mean tariff wars, and once they lost their markets they would never regain them. He warned the fishermen of the danger they ran by any process of tampering with the Free Trade of the country, which had benefited the fishing industry. (Applause.)
STIFF HECKLING. – Questions were invited, and Captain Ellice asked —” Was it fair trade that this country, sending herring Norway, had duty of £5 15s per barrel on them, while the Norwegian gets his put into Britain duty free?” The Captain replied that as far as he could make out they did not send any herring to Norway, and the duty there was naturally meant to stop their supply from going into Norway, but the only people who suffer were the Norwegian consumers, who had thus to pay enormous prices for their own herrings. (Applause.)
Were the wages more or less in British-protected countries, such as Australia or Canada, this Free Trade one, and also the chances of employment?”
The Captain said that Australia the wages were very high, because no workmen were allowed to come in. That question in Australia was a very intricate one, and he imagined the first measure of legislation would be to allow workmen come in freely. Australia would never become a great country unless she allowed workmen go in. She had even turned away British workmen. The chances of employment were less there than in Britain.
“If the trade of the country was progressing why was there such a scarcity employment in the country, and many people had to go to protected countries, as Canada, for work?” The Captain replied that the scarcity of work was due to our very heavy taxation and the expenditure of the war they had just gone through. It had cost them £250,000,000, and they were bound to suffer for it. With regard the people, going from Britain to Canada for work, they would find that there were many more people went from protected countries than from Great Britain.
The Captain received a vote of confidence at the close.
1906
CELLARDYKE. SCHOOL BOARD. –A meeting took place on Wednesday evening, Mr Lawson presiding. The list of attendances were submitted, also the census of School children, there bring 611 in Cellardyke, and 89 in Kilrenny.
1907
CELLARDYKE. “Lest We Forget” The Election Anniversary. —As briefly announced last week, the Unionists here are to celebrate the anniversary of Major Anstruther-Gray’s return to Parliament the representative of the Andrews Burghs to-morrow (Saturday.) The celebrations will take the form of a concert, which is to be held in Cellardyke Town Hall. The programme is one of unusual promise, and the most important item is a speech by the burghs’ popular member. The pick of the local artistes, with the addition of several contributors from a distance, completes a list which augurs well for the success of the evening, and speaks highly of the energy and loyalty already displayed by Mr A. Smith, the new Organising Secretary. With the fishermen all ashore, there is certain to be a bumper house, and the Major will once more be delighted, as he always is, by the show and feeling loyalty to the Unionist cause in Cellardyke.
1908
THE LABELLING OF MARGARINE. Cellardyke Grocer’s Offence.
James Scott, grocer, Cellardyke, admitted before Sheriff Armour at Cupar to-day having exhibited for sale margarine which was not labelled as such. In extenuation Mr Alf. E. Grosset said the barrel was quite distinctly labelled “margarine,” all that was a wanting was the label on the margarine itself. A year ago the Inspector called for 1 lb. of margarine, and when got wrapped in paper. which was margarine printed, handed it back, saying had bought it for the purpose of seeing if he had the proper wrapping. At that time the Inspector said nothing about the absence of the label on the margarine. It was difficult to see why all this carefulness should applied towards margarine, when much of it was distinctly superior to quantities of butter. Sentence of fine of 10s was passed.
1909
Pension Payments.
As in all other Scottish towns, Saturday witnessed the first pension payments in Cellardyke. While there was no rush to get their pensions at the earliest possible moment, the majority of the pensioners visited the Post Office before noon. The first to draw a pension was an old woman, who did not wait long after eight o’clock to make good her claim. A good few of the recipients expressed their gratitude with voices trembling with emotion, while one would hardly believe that his good fortune will continue indefinitely. An old woman died soon after having received her first and only payment. Altogether, about 70 pensions were paid, but a few who had not received their books were unable to obtain their pensions on Saturday, but of worse they will receive payment as from that day.
RUNAWAY HORSE KILLED.
A horse belonging to W. Birrell, baker, Anstruther, bolted on Saturday morning. The animal dashed along Forth Street, Cellardyke, and in taking a sharp turn at the end of that street struck the wall of shed, and was instantaneously killed. The van to which the horse was yoked was not damaged in any way beyond a lamp bracket being twisted.
Cellardyke Skipper and Crew at Law
The case of J. Brunton, J. Gen, W. Brown, and Watson Smith, fishermen, Cellardyke, against James Hodge, fisherman, Cellardyke, aroused great interest and the courtroom was packed. Mr T. D. Murray, solicitor, appeared for pursuers, while defendant was represented by Mr C. H. Maxwell. Pursuers held that the sum of £2 18s 9d fell to be divided among them as part of the earnings for the English fishing, and took exception to several items of the accounts presented by defendant. For the defence Mr Maxwell submitted the accounts of the proceeds of the Lowest and Yarmouth fishing. The vessel’s gross earnings had been £272 1s 6d, out of which there had to be taken £135 2s 1d, as working expenses, leaving £136 19s 5d, out of that sum £54 16s 9d was paid to the owners, and left £82 3s 8d to be divided among the crew, out of that sum the living expenses of the crew had to be taken, and the amount for division among the seven members of the crew was £41 7s 10d. Four shares of that were due the pursuers £23 18s 9d, and there had been paid to account £21. That was admitted by pursuers, and he would bring figures to prove that defendant was not due the balance
Lengthy Cross Examination
The defendant was first examined, and certified as to the correctness of the accounts incurred at the English fishing, and produced in the Court. Under examination he stated that the drifter St Abb’s was taken out Shields, and a crew was got at Anstruther for the Lowestoft and Yarmouth herring fishing. At the close of the fishing the boat came back to Anstruther, after which another man and himself took the vessel back to Shields. The owners paid him something for taking it back, and also paid the other fisherman. They allowed them passage money. ………. The full cross examination follows on and is three and a half full broadsheet columns, producing receipts for gear and right down to loaves of bread. The Sherriff deals with each bill individually, but does state that it is very difficult for a skipper in this situation who is not only responsible for the fishing and the boat, but almost has to be an accountant too, and the boat owners should take more responsibility too.