1920
In connection with the proposed war memorial for the parish of Kilrenny it desired to have a complete list of those connected with the parish who fell in the war. Particulars from relatives are being received by Mr William W. Carstairs, Cellardyke, on behalf of the committee.
1921
HERRING FISHING. ANSTRUTHER. Wednesday.-About forty boats averaged 15 crans. Highest shots:- White Heather (Cellardyke), 50 crans: Ebenezer (A.H.), 40 crans; and number with 30 each Price fell to-day, the cran selling at 35s. (only two days before a Cellardyke boat the Cellardyke boat got 90s per cran, but a crisis in the herring industry had been building since they lost the german and Russian markets after the war, nationally catching capacity was estimated to be so high that some in the industry were suggesting halfing the fleet.)
1923
The annual collection taken in Cellardyke and Kilrenny on behalf of the Sick Children’s Hospital, Edinburgh, amounted to £25 6s 6d a decrease compared to last year of 10s 6d. The collectors were Misses M Carstairs, L Bett, C Smith and E Gardner.
SONG AND STORY AT KINGSBARNS W.R.I. A lecture on Burns was given Mr Frazer, St Andrews, to Kingsbarns W.R.I. Recitations and songs were contributed by Mr Evans Johnstone, Mr T. Reid, and Miss Bett, Cellardyke. Mrs Laurence was accompanist.
CRAIL CONGREGATION ENTERTAINED. SPLENDIDLY VARIED PROGRAMME. A social meeting in connection with Crail United Free Church was held in the Church Hall last night, when a large company was present. ………….Readings were given by Miss Rita Duncan and Mr M. Ireland, and Mr William Watson, Cellardyke, rendered selections on the violin.
FIFE BOAT ABLAZE IN HARBOUR. Cellardyke Vessel Destroyed. Fire broke out in the early hours of yesterday morning on the motor fishing bauldie, Faithful 11 ( mistaken reporting of the name this was the Fruitful 11, KY 57) ., lying at Anstruther, resulting in the destruction of the vessel. The bauldie, which was moored at the entrance of the harbour near the East Pier, was being made ready for being brought into the inner harbour when the outbreak occurred. The rocking of the boat, after the motor was started overturned acetylene lamp, with the result that the lid was knocked off and the oil caught fire. An Anstruther coastguard watchman on duty observed the occurrence, and once raised the alarm. He communicated with Mr H. Watson, hon. secretarv of the local lifeboat, and also with the local fire brigade, which at once proceeded to the scene. Efforts to subdue the flames were, however, unavailing, and the bauldie was gutted very short time. The bauldie belonged to Mr John Deas, Cellardyke, and is understood to be insured.
1924
INDIGNANT FIFE FISHERMEN LANDING OF IMMATURE HERRING
“Ring Net Catches in Forth and Tay Should be Prohibited”
Those connected with the fishing industry in East Fife are severely criticising the landing of immature herring in that area, These herring, which are very small, are got by the “ring” net method. In the upper reaches of the Firths of Forth and Tay and since the season opened many crans have been landed the various ports. Fishermen at Cellardyke and Anstruther are most indignant about the matter, which they maintain is the cause of the continued failure of the winter herring fishing. That all kinds of bag net fishing ought to be prohibited is the general opinion.
Anstruther Threat.
So seriously do they view the present state of affairs that they have decided not to allow any more of the “ringed” herrings to be landed at Anstruther Harbour, and the fish buyers at a meeting held there last week agreed to support the fishermen by refusing to purchase the catches landed. As far as is known, however, buyers at other ports continue to buy the herring, but efforts are being made induce them to fall in with the fish buyers at Anstruther. A deputation consisting of Skippers Henry Bett and Martin Gardner, Cellardyke; Mr Jack T. Graham, fish salesman; Mr Forbes, secretary, Anstruther; and Skipper James Wood (Allan), St Monans, visited Edinburgh on Saturday, when they interviewed Mr Jones, chairman of the Fishery Board. The deputation was introduced by Mr J. Duncan Millar, M.P. for East Fife.
Two St Monans motor bauldies, the Viligant and the Children’s Friend, arrived at Anstruther on Saturday forenoon, both having several crans of “ringed” herrings. A long and at times somewhat heated argument took place at the sale ring after the skippers and crews were told of the buyers’ decision that they were not to bid.
Skipper T. Adam, of the Vigilant, pleaded that they were not aware of the rule that had been made. During the general discussion it was emphasised that the upper reaches of the Firths, and especially the Firth of Forth, were the best spawning beds for all kinds of fish.
A member of one of the crews was not sure that that was the case. “I like the Irishman who remarked that no one can fathom the brain of a herring,” he replied.
Eventually the herring were disposed of privately. With the same tide a few yawls landed small shots of drift net herring, which realised to £2 10s per cran.
FIFE FISHERMEN’S CRUSADE. AGAINST KILLING OF IMMATURE HERRINGS.
MEMORANDUM FISHERY BOARD.
Cellardyke fishermen and those connected with the fishing industry in the East Fife are determined to leave no stone unturned to enlist sympathy in their efforts lb prohibit the catching of immature fish.
A mass meeting of fishermen was held in Cellardyke Town Hall, and was largely attended. Bailie Carstairs. Cellardyke, presided, and explained that the object of the meeting was for the purpose of forming an Association. He called upon Mr A. G. Forbes, agent. North of Scotland Bank, Anstruther, secretary and treasurer of the Fishermen’s Committee, to make a report.
Mr Forbes said that the Fishermen’s Committee, which had been appointed at a recent meeting, felt that, as they had only been appointed in consultative capacity, questions were now arising which they thought they had not the power to deal with, and on their recommendation the meeting was called so that an Association might rightly formed and an Executive Committee appointed to deal with the larger questions.
Skipper Sutherland moved and Skipper W. Watson seconded that an Association be formed to represent the fishing industry in Cellardyke, and the motion was unanimously carried.
The following were appointed to the Executive Committee: —Chairman, Bailie Carstairs, Cellardyke; vice-chairman, Jack T. Graham. Anstruther; secretary and treasurer. Mr A. G. Forbes. Anstruther; committee Skippers Sutherland. Henry Bett. A. Wood. Martin. Gardiner, Lock. Horsburgh, W. Wood, and Mr John Sheriff.
SHORTAGE OF HERRING.
Called upon by the chairman to give the position as regards the present controversy relating to the destruction of immature fish, Jack T Graham explained that five of the deputation of which he was member had been to the Fishery Board, the chairman of which had previously granted them an interview. He submitted a memorandum which, if approved by the Executive Committee, would be forwarded to the Fishery Board as from the Association.
The memorandum, which is a lengthy document, stated there was no doubt, as official statistics proved, there was a tremendous shortage of herring the Firth of Forth grounds, where, during the pre-war years in the months of January, February, and March many vessels were catching this class of fish.
The East of Fife fishermen asserted and believed that the scientist would agree that the Firth of Forth was a nursery for the young herring. Owing to the failure of the fishing off Anstruther and St Monans, following it did the very lean times during the past two years In particular, many of the fishermen were now taking part in the seine net fishing for herring in the upper reaches of the Firth. These men state, as conservative estimate, that of the fish which taken in the net fifty per cent is returned to the sea killed, they were so small that they were of no use for human consumption. The fish were killed before they were taken aboard.
USELESS FOR FOOD MARKETS.
The fish which is landed is of such a mixed variety and contained such a large percentage of small stuff that the catches were practically useless for the food Markets.
Anstruther the salesmen, curers, and fishers had agreed that no more herrings caught by the same means as were the herrings present in the upper reaches would be exposed for sale or purchased at that port. The men referred to realised that the wholesale slaughter of young immature and unmarketable fish, occasioned that method of fishing in a nursery such as the Firth of Forth was acknowledged to be, should not encouraged, but rather strong steps should be taken to have it made illegal.
The destruction of immature fish was an evil of long standing, and the waste of fish involved thereby was vital importance to the future of the country’s food supplies and her exports of cured herrings to Continental and other countries.
As an alternative method to the bag, boom, and ring net, a practical fisherman of the East of Fife suggested the anchor or drift net of a mesh to be decided by the Fishery Board for Scotland, which would allow, having no hag, way of escape for the young fish. It was agreed to forward the memorandum to the Fishery Board.
Looking forward to splendidly varied programmes in the near future