1875
BODY OF A MAN FOUND AT SEA.—On Saturday last, the crew of the Cellardyke fishing boat of which Mr Duncan McRuvie is skipper, observed the body of a man floating at sea about six miles beyond the May Island. On coming up to it, it was found to be in such an advanced state of decomposition that it was found impossible to raise it, and at the same time so shockingly mutilated, as to render any attempt at identification useless.
1876
PROPOSED INSURANCE CLUB F0R BOATS.—The disasters which recently befell East of Fife fishing boats, involving as they did a loss of nearly £2000 worth of property, has drawn public attention to the necessity of an insurance club for boats, a subject which was forcibly dwelt upon by many of the contributors to the fund raised for the relief of the deceased fishermen’s dependants. At the instance of Mr David Murray, of Messrs Sharp & Murray, a public meeting was held in Cellardyke on Saturday evening in order to bring the matter before the fishermen, and after addresses had been given by Provost Martin Cellardyke, and Messrs Cook and Oliphant, bankers, and Captain Kay, Anstruther, a number of fishermen paid 2s 6d of entry money, which gives them a voice in the framing of the rules. It is proposed to have similar meetings in Pittenweem and St Monance, so that the whole of the boats in the district, 360 in number, may be embraced in the club.
DEATH OF AN OLD RESIDENTER – One the oldest inhabitants of Cellardyke died in the ancient house there in which she had been born, and had uninterruptedly passed her long span fourscore and set years, on Monday last. The venerable inmate was the last survivor of the family of worthy James Wilson, who, for the long period of fifty-six years, was town officer and also the beadle the parish, and who, by curious coincidence, died at the same advanced age in early spring of 1830. “It’s a strange thing hoo folk sometimes get their ain”, is a familiar Scottish saying, true if ever, in Isabella Wilson’s case, seeing that the home keeping Cellardyke damsel was woo’d and wed by the young sailor, Malcolm McRuvie, all the way from the duke’s town of Inverary. This was some sixty years ago, when the revenue cutters used to rendezvous in the Forth, when their black snake like hulls and flowing clouds of canvas, were the pride the sea, just as the blue jackets who manned them were to the hearts the winsome losses by the green old shore. The peace luring cuttersman, however, soon quitted the king’s service, and cast his lot in with the hardy fishers of Cellardyke, and so a new name, which has since spread and prospered, was added to the coast.
1877
NOTICE TO DEBTORS AND CREDITORS. ALL PARTIES having CLAIMS against the late Mrs ANDREW YOUNG, 53 George street, Cellardyke, are requested to lodge the same with John Young, at that address, within EIGHT Days from this date; and Parties INDEBTED to the deceased will please pay their Accounts to Mr Young within the same period. Cellardyke, 1st February 1877.
Fishing boat for sale – the “Catherine” of Cellardyke, about 40 feet long, suitable for the herring fishery, Apply to Andrew Brown Brunton, fisherman Cellardyke
In reference to this subject we observe with unqualified pleasure, that a beginning has now been made by Mr John A Millar to the interesting experiment in fishing craft, which promises to work quite a revolution in the rig and appearance of the deep sea going squadrons of Cellardyke. The old quay of ST Nicholas at West Anstruther, where even before the days of the rudder, the old monks fished and plied the steer “oar” is, curious enough, the scene of this the latest improvement in Fifeshire boatbuilding. This is nothing less than to substitute the ketch or dandy rig, with its smart fore and aft sails for the cumbrous lug, which must be dipped, and that in storm or calm, as often as the boat rounds to on another tack. Unquestionably, as every seaman knows, the lug sail lies kindly to the wind. It’s singular properties are no less conspicuous on a chopping sea; but these advantages give way, and naturally so before the manifold dangers and difficulties of everyday service, but particularly in working the boat in narrow streams, and in someway, in hauling the gear at the fishing ground, in the opinion, however, of most of the hardy fishers of Cellardyke, the new rig is strictly an experiment; but everyone is interested in its success, and that for reasons alike of economy and safety, Councillor Mitchell, who has long proved himself a master in the art of Sailmaking, is confident, from the results of his own experiments, that the new system will succeed; but in any case we feel assured it will be full and fairly tested by the owner of the boat, Skipper George Watson of Cellardyke, who has also the merit of being the first to “weather Cape Desire” as an old Anster heroes liked to say of the pioneers of progress. In addition, however to the new rig in spar and sail, the fishings craft on which Mr Millar is now busy is also to have the “flush deck” and bulwarks of ordinary sea going smacks; and skipper Watson’s experiment may therefore be said to be fraught with lively interest to all concerned in the development and success of the Scottish Fisheries.
A Praiseworthy Donation – We learn with pleasure that the Shipwrecked Fishermen and Mariners’ Society—the most meritorious of all benevolent institutions on our stormy seaboard—has just awarded, through the kind representation of their district agent, Wm Gillies, Esq., of the Fishery service, the sum of £5 to the age-stricken parents the Cellardyke mariner, Alexander Hodge, who was drowned at sea last autumn, while rounding Cape Horn, on the voyage from San Francisco the Humber.
NARROW ESCAPE OF A FISHING BOAT. Between seven and eight o’clock last Friday night the crew of the Cellardyke fishing boat Regina, Skipper Thomas Bett, made a narrow escape with their lives while taking Anstruther harbour. A heavy shower of hail had rendered it difficult to see the single light on the east pier, but the position of the cement pier could not be distinguished from the sea which kept washing over it. The boat was kept well to the westward, and an endeavour made to steer as near to the fairway as was possible; but while a short distance away, the boat was struck by a sea, and the united efforts of the skipper and one of the crew could not get the helm to answer. Seeing the extreme danger which this placed them in, some of the crew with great presence of mind let go an anchor, and hardly had this been done when the boat suddenly went forward with great speed, and struck with terrific force against the south-east corner of the cement pier. The crew fortunately were able to keep themselves from being pitched overboard by the shock, but had almost given up hope of saving the boat if not their lives, when the anchor providentially proved their salvation, as the steady pressure it exercised caused the boat’s head to come round, and part of the sail being immediately hoisted she sailed right into the harbour. An examination was at once made to ascertain if she was leaking, but nothing of the kind could be detected. The force of the stroke against the pier, however, may be gathered from the fact that, in addition to the gunwale and some of the timbers being broken, the stern of the boat was nearly knocked away. The damage is covered by insurance, the skipper being one of those who have wisely availed themselves of the advantages offered by the East of Fife Boat Insurance Club.
1878
ln accordance with his annual custom, Stephen Williamson, Esq. Liverpool, has during the last few weeks caused supplies of coals to be distributed among no less than 80 families in Anstruther and Cellardyke.
1879
The Cellardyke boat “Venus Star,” Peter Murray, master, was running to the harbour when a fleet of nets was seen adrift on the stormy tide, having evidently broken away from some boat by reason of the gale. There are those who would have left the gear to is fate, but with generous sympathy for the misfortunes of another, Skipper Murray and his men saved the nets one and all, to the number of eighteen. They have since been identified as the property of a Buckhaven crew.
The North Sea has been well called the fish pond of Europe ; but the unfailing abundance of the supply, and at the same time the idle fears of those who advocate the overfishing theory, has been seldom so well illustrated as on the Fife coast on Saturday last. On the old gathering ground the success of the Cellardyke fleet was indeed, modest enough; but after so far sharing in the ill luck of his neighbours, Skipper Brunton shook out the reef points, and held to the sea, where, fifty or sixty knots from the May, he secured on his remaining lines the splendid take of fifty baskets, or six-and -thirty cwt. of St Peter’s dainty. A companion boat—that of Skipper George Heugh, of Pittenweem—also shared in the noble harvest, but having a fourth more sea gear that the “Jessies,” her take weighed no less than two tons, five cwt , and one quarter. which, with a single exception or two, is perhaps the largest ” haddock shot ” ever landed at gables of the granary.
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