1890
ACCIDENT TO A CELLARDYKE FISHERMAN AT ABERDEEN, _ Late last night Charles Hay (32), a Fisherman on board the fishing boat Florence of Cellardyke (Robert Brown skipper), got his right arm fractured by falling from the Florence to the deck of another fishing boat, he was removed to the Infirmary.
The schools were all re-opened on Monday. The attendance was about average, with the exception of Cellardyke and Pittenweem, where there are so few of the fishermen’s children home from the north. Next week, however, the numbers will be considerably augmented in these places. Work has also been begun in the Waid Academy with a considerable number of pupils.
To Bicycle clubs – Cycling capes, cycling capes, best and cheapest in the market; double texture only 5s per parcel post, order at once. Secretaries note the address – Black and Co the Cellardyke Factory, Cellardyke Fife.
1891
FOR SALE, BOAT “Harvest Queen”. – KY 1955, 44 feet, carvel built, all the material in good order. Apply to JAMES DICK, 31 Rodger St., Cellardyke
ANSTRUTHER. — The stormy, weather last week retarded fishing operations until Thursday night when the boats went to sea for the first time. The nets were shot in Dunbar Bay, and on Friday and Saturday 258 crans of herrings were landed, which realised from 20s. to 30s. per cran. The catch for the season is now 2650 crans, compared with 623 crans last year. Fully 40 of the Cellardyke boats have arrived home from the northern stations. A few have done very well, having netted between £400 and £500 for the season, while others have made barely sufficient to pay expenses. The average, however, this year is higher than it has been for some seasons past.
1892
CELLARDYKE. ANOTHER DROWNING CASE AT PETERHEAD– On Sunday morning the body of John Muir (19), son of David Muir, Cellardyke, skipper of the Mayflower, KY 48, was found floating in the south harbour. He had been crossing over to his father’s boat had had missed his footing, and falling into the water, was drowned.
The week opened with a gloom over each of the homes in Cellardyke and Pittenweem. On Sunday the Rev. Mr Anderson, after coming from Kilconquhar, received a telegram informing him of the death of John Muir, and asking him to break the tidings to his relatives. After the service, in which he made an indirect reference to the sad duty he had to perform, he performed his message. Little is known about the accident, but it is thought that Muir slipped as he crossed to his father’s boat, the Reindeer, in which he was fishing. He was 20 years old, and much sympathy is felt for his parent and grandparents. The body was conveyed home and interred in Kilrenny Churchyard. A similar message was sent to Pittenweem on the same day. This was to the relatives of David Hughes, a youth of ten summers, who accompanied his father, Alexander Hughes (Gay), who was fishing from Peterhead. He had been sent some message, and owing to his prolonged absence his mother went to look for him. Observing a book and bread floating in the Basin she thought he had let them fall in and was frightened to return, but graver fears took possession of her as the night wore on, and a party was engaged to drag the harbour, and shortly after his body was recovered. His body was also brought home for interment.
The homecoming of the fleet thus occurs under a shadow which the drave of many will only deepen. The first- comer proved to be the Magdalene Hughes, Skipper Fergus Hughes, the king fisher for the season. He is credited with £700, against which 30 nets lost on the Tuesday is the chief deduction. The crew is composed of half-dealsmen, who thus receive a splendid wage, as large as many an entire crew’s earnings, while the skipper, as owner, is placed far ahead on the list of rich draves. On the same Friday the Reliance (Skipper Adam Reid) returned to Anstruther, and his £450 will probably make him the king fisher of this port. The Golden Rule and Lavinia- came in on Thursday, and each succeeding tide was marked by the arrival of some boat or other, chiefly those from Aberdeen, from whom a recital of heavy hauls would weary one, and the tales of remuneration prove all too brief. With them the season has been a weary drag, intensified by the fever of a good shot, and the wet blanket thrown over the crew on their return to port by the lack of buyers. The average for the entire fleet at this port is about 280 crans, but the money realised is scarcely a fourth of that. At Peterhead and Fraserburgh the average is over 300 crans, and the returns about £150. Both of these places were remarkably well fished, and the prices were good, a great contrast to the quotations from Aberdeen, where the high prices last year induced many of our skippers to go, instead of as in former years to Peterhead. The fishing at Anstruther is comprised in a catch of 30 crans from the Margaret Morris on Tuesday night, for which 10s was obtained. The Constance is loading herring from the yard of Mr Cormack for the Continent. This is the first shipment which has taken place here. The salmon fishing closed for the season on Friday night. The fish have been hardly so numerous as in previous years.
GOOD NEWS FOR THE EAST COAST FISHERMEN. BOARD OF TRADE EXAMINATIONS. Mr George Watson, Cellardyke, has passed his examination as second mate this week before the Local Marine Board Dundee. Mr Watson had not nearly completed the four years’ sea which the of Trade require from candidate for examination for certificate competency as second mate, but his service in deep-sea fishing vessels was allowed to count instead of the time he was short of the four years. This passing of Mr Watson will show to fishermen on the East Coast that their service is of use, that is allowed count to qualify them to pass a Board of Trade examination for a certificate, and that they have not to serve much time to qualify for passing as a boy leaving home for the first time. It also serves to prove the statement of Mr Swanston, C.B., assistant secretary, Marine Department, Board of Trade, that “service in bona-fide deep-sea fishing vessel”, irrespective of the mode fishing, is accepted qualifying towards examination for a certificate of competency.” Mr Watson prepared with Mr Leonard Alien, 33 Dock Street, Dundee.
OPENING INTIMATION. GEORGE DICK, having taken over the NET FACTORY, so long carried on by the firm of Sharp and Murray, begs to inform MERCHANTS and FISHERMEN that he intends to Manufacture all kinds of Fishing Nets from the Best Quality of Cotton. Having been Manager of this Factory for over 28 years, he trusts to merit a Share of the Patronage so long bestowed upon his Predecessors. Cellardyke, 30th August 1892
Accident near Arbroath. —Yesterday afternoon an accident of a most melancholy nature happened to a little lad near Carnoustie. The lad’s name is Andrew Elder, five years of age, and he belongs Cellardyke. He was travelling along with his mother by the express from Aberdeen, which passes through Arbroath at 4.55, when, after passing Carnoustie, the door of the carriage suddenly opened and the poor little chap was thrown out of the train, which was going full speed. The carriage door it seems is fitted with handle inside, and it appears that the little fellow had been amusing himself somehow with this and had inadvertently opened the door, and caused the accident which likely to bring about his death. He was found lying upon the line upon his face, and insensible, and was conveyed to Dundee Infirmary, where it was found that his skull was severely fractured. Last night scarcely any hope was entertained for the little fellow’s recovery. His mother, who was on her way from Aberdeen to Cellardyke, was nearly hysterical over the lamentable and sudden accident to her boy.
1893
On Monday afternoon two Cellardyke boys fell into the harbour. Several were playing on board the dredger moored at the West pier, when one of them, in stepping from the dredger on to a boat lying alongside, missed his footing and fell into the water. Mr David Pratt, who was on board his boat near at hand, got the little boy taken out with a boathook. He was none the worse of his fright. About four o’clock another young boy fell in from one of the iron ladders, but he was got out at once, and was able to walk home.
The Cellardyke boats which have been fishing at the northern ports returned home on Friday and Saturday. The season has been a good one, the average sum over the 160 boats being estimated at £130. The kingfisher, Skipper Adam Reid of the Reliance, has £530, and the lowest boat £30 for the eight weeks. The great majority, however, have close on £180 to £200, although there are a few with £300 to their credit. Generally, the boats which were at Peterhead were the best fished. Crews are now being made up for the south fishing at Yarmouth and Lowestoft, while a few are to proceed to the Islay fishing.
THE OUTBREAK OF TYPHOID FEVER. There have been a few more new cases of typhoid fever this past week both in Anstruther and Cellardyke. A proposal has been made that the water and milk used in the burghs should be analysed by a specialist.
1894
The Cellardyke boats that have been fishing at the north have nearly all arrived home. The season has been a fairly good one, the average being higher than some years back, it being estimated at £150. The highest boat is the Reliance, with £420. A few have over £300, and quite a number above £200 to their credit. There are some below £100.
THE DROWNING OF A CELLARDYKE FISHERMAN OFF LEVEN —Between eight and two o’clock on Tuesday morning an accident which led to the drowning of a young Cellardyke fishermen off Leven. The boat Onyx, Skipper Robert Meldrum, left Anstruther at three o’ clock in the morning in order to be beached at Leven for the winter. Everything went well until the boat was going into Leven, when Thomas Pringle, fisherman, residing in Dove Street, Cellardyke, slipped at the bow of the boat and fell overboard. Several articles were at once thrown to him, and efforts were immediately made to turn the boat, but Pringle sank before any other assistance could be rendered him. On going inside the harbour the sad occurrence was reported, and a volunteer party went out with grapnels and searched for the body. In this they were unsuccessful. Meanwhile the skipper telegraphed the Rev Mr Anderson. Kilrenny, to break the mournful intelligence to Pringle’s relatives. This was done in the course of the forenoon. The news soon spread, and created general expressions of sympathy and regret. What makes the occurrence all the more sad is that Pringle, who was about 30 years of age, was to have been married on Tuesday next. Pringle was a native of Buckhaven, his parents having lived at Muiredge, but he was brought up by his aunt in Cellardyke
The following paragraph is taken from a Geelong newspaper, of the end of June last. The Captain mentioned is Mr Cunningham, late of Cellardyke: ‘ The deep sea fishing cutter “Scotsman” arrived early yesterday at North Geelong front a hard and deep sea fishing trip having experienced some very severe weather during the cruise The ‘ Scotsman’ however proved a splendid sea boat in the trying weather in the Straits. Captain Cunningham reports strong westerly and north-westerly ……..in the south west entrance of the Bass Straits. In his opinion the deep sea fish strike to deep water according to storms and season.. For the information of those interested the Captain states that deep sea fishing crafts should be about 30 tons reg. and able to keep the sea in all weathers, the special qualifications required being speed, adaptability and worthiness, for which the Captain holds the prize medal of Norwich exhibition 1881. The fishermen engaged in the trade should moreover be trained to this hazardous work when very young. Victoria waters furnish large scope for deep sea fishing, but he believes that if the Government would be at the expense of building suitable deep sea boats and entrust these to experienced captains, coat of construction to be repaid without interest, and encourage the colonial youth to become apprentices, the deep sea fishing industry would be very soon on a sound footing.
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