340 B I0 GRAP €11 C AL SKETCHES.
oysters for the evening market-innumerable vessels, with sails set, are courting
the light and gentle breeze-while, with fiery speed, the various steamers give
life and animation to the picture. Proceeding to the village, the visitor is impressed
with the thriving appearance of the place, and the commendable industry
of its inhabitants. Most of the women who have remained from market are
busily employed out of doors-some in making and mending nets for the
approaching herring-season-others are barking sails, while the younger portion
are returning with loads of bait for the lines of their fathers or brothers.
Though Newhaven is now a place of considerable importance in its way, and
can boast of a population greatly exceeding the number employed in fishing, a
marked distinction is maintained betwixt the two classes ; and the fishermen
pride themselves on the exclusive intercourse which has distinguished their
community from time immemorial. The Buckhaven fishermen, on the opposite
coast, are said to be the descendants of settlers from the Netherlands ; and even
yet they adhere to the wide trousers and long boots of the Dutch ; but there is
no reasonable ground for believing that either the fishers of Prestonpans,
Fisherrow, or Newhaven, derive their origin from a foreign stock.
It is rather curious, in villages so nearly connected by locality and avocation,
that any marked difference should be found in manners or habits. This is the
case, however, both in regard to dialect, dress, and several other particulars.
Thus the Newhaven women are distinguished from those of Fisherrow by the
arrangement of their head-dress, particularly in the disposal of their hair.
Formerly, and the feeling is not yet entirely extinct, much rivalry prevailed
among the various communities of fishermen on the coast. About forty years
ago an inveterate feud existed betwixt the Prestonpans and Newhaven men.
The bone of contention was the right to certain oyster beds which the latter
claimed as the tacksmen of the city of Edinburgh.' Many conflicts resulted
from this misunderstanding, as will appear from the following extracts :-
"On Wednesday, March 19 [1788], a sharp contest took place at the back of the Black Rocks,
near Leith harbour, between a boat's crew belonging to Newhaven and another belonging to
Prestonpans, occasioned by the latter dredging oysters on the ground alleged to belong to the
former. After a severe conflict of about half an hour, with their oars, boat-hooks, etc., the Newhaven
men brought in the Prestonpans boat to Newhaven, after much hurt being received on
both sides. This is the second Prestonpans boat taken from them in the same manner by the
Newhaven men."
" Some time ago five fishermen from Prestonpans were imprisoned for dredging oysters near
Newhaven, contrary to an interdict of the Judge-Admiral. In order that the public, particularly
the lovers of good oysters, may know the reason of granting this interdict, the following state
of facts is submitted :-
" For more than a year past a cause has been pending in the Court of Admiralty, between
sundry fishermen in Newhaven, aa tacksmen of the town of Edinburgh, and Lady Greenwich,
on the one part ; and certain fishermen in Prestonpans, etc., on the other. The point in dispute
is certain oyster-scalps, to which each party claims an exclusive right. Accusations of encroachment
were mutually given and retorted. At dredging, when the parties met, much altercation
The rent then paid by the Newhaven men for the oyster banks was 880.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 341
and abusive language took place-bloody encounters ensued-and boats were captured on both
sides. It would require the pen of a Dnunmond (Hawthornden) to describe in a proper manner
the many bloody conflicts of these sons of Neptune, in which’as much enterprise and heroism
were frequently displayed as would have done honour to a more important cause. A scarcitg of
fish at first gave rise to these disputes ; but it would appear that the combatants afterwards fought
not so much for oysters as for victory. And indeed, what with vinegar on the one part, and pepper
on the other, the oysters, upon the whole, were highly seasoned.
‘‘ The Newhaven fishers contend that the community of Edinburgh, whose tacksmen they are,
have the sole right to the Green Scalp on the breast of Iuehkeith, and to the Beacon Grounds lying
off the Black Rocks. To instruct this right they produce a notarial copy of a charter from King
James VI., and likewise a charter from Charles I., 1636, whereinfihings are expressly mentioned.
There was also produced a charter in favour of Lady Greenwich,inwhichfihings are comprehended.
“On the other hand, the Prestonpans fishers contended that the Newhaven men have
encroached on the north shores belonging to the Earl of Morton and burgh of Burntisland, of
which they are tacksmen. They accordingly produced an instrument of seisin, dated Nov. 10,
1786, in virtue of which his lordship wm infeft, inter alia, in the oyster scalps in question.
They also condescended on a charter granted by King James VI., 1585, to the town of Burntisland,
which is on record, and which they say establishes their right. They further contend
that the Magistrates of Edinburgh have produced no proper titles to prove their exclusive right
to the scalps they have set in tack to the Newhaven fishermen. The charter of King James VI.
was resigned by the town in the reign of Charles I. ; and the new charter granted by the latter
in 1636 gives no right to the oyster scalps in dispute. The word Jshings, in general, is not
contained in the dispositive clause, but only occurs in the Tenendas, like hawkings, huntings,
or other words of style, which is of no signification.
“ After various representations to the Judge-Admiral, his lordship pronounced an interlocutor
ordaining both parties to produce their respective rights to these fishings, and prohibiting them
from dredging oysters in any of the scalps in dispute till the issue of the cause.
“A petition was presented to his lordship on the 6th January last [1790], by the Newhaven
fishers, stating that, by the late interdict, they find themselves deprived of the means of support
ing themselves and families, while the Prestonpans fishers are pursuing their usual employment
by dredging on other scalps than those in dispute ; and praying his lordship would recal or
modify said interdict. Which petition being served on the agent for the east-country fishers,
his lordship, by interlocutor of the 5th February last, allowed both parties to dredge oysters upon
the scalps they respectively pretended right to ; and before going to fish, to take with them any
of the six sworn pilots at Leith, to direct each party where they should fish, to prevent them
from encroaching on each other‘s scalps, or taking up the seedlings.’ ”
This cause was finally decided by the Judge-Admiral against the Prestonpans
fishermen ; but no damages were awarded, and each party had to pay their
own expenses.
On the breaking out of hostilities with France, the danger which threatened
the coast had the effect of diverting the attention of the Newhaven men from
their local quarrels ; and they were the first to offer their services as a marine
force to guard against the encroachments of the enemy. This well-timed
manifestation of public spirit was so highly appreciated, that on the 10th of
May 1796, the president of their Society, at a meeting convened fofthe purpose,
was presented with a handsome silver medal and chain, in presence of several
gentlemen, by the Duke of Buccleuch, who delivered an appropriate speech on
the occasion. On one side, the medal contained the following inscription:-
“ In testimony of the brave and patriotic offer of the fishermen of Newhaven
to defend the coasts against the enemy, this honorav mark of approbation was
voted by the county of Mid-Lothian, November 2, 1796.” On the reverse side
