culler n DC ~ obs (Nfld: 1907, 1957); cp DAE 'official appointed to inspect fish, staves, etc' obs (1663-1832). One employed to sort dried and salted cod-fish into grades by quality, size and 'cure'; sometimes with designation government; sworn(-in).
   [1810] 1971 ANSPACH 28 There are in Harbour Grace experienced Cullers who have been sworn in our Court, against whom I have heard of no complaint made. 1866 WILSON 212 A culler usually goes in the [galloper] to select the mercantile fish. 1881 Nineteenth Century ix, 87. There they are culled over, sorted into three or four piles according to their quality by experienced cullers, who separate the good from the indifferent, and the indifferent from the bad, with great rapidity and unerring skill. [1892] 1896 Consolidated Statutes of Nfld 824 No person shall be licensed as a culler to cull codfish, as between vendor and vendee, in any of the places that come under the operation of this chapter. 1933 Nfld Royal Commission Report 80 In cases where fish was valued according to quality, the quality of the fish tendered by the fisherman was determined by a 'culler' or valuer. 1939 LODGE 53 When made [the fish] is divided by expert 'cullers' into a dozen categories according to the market for which it is most suitable. [1952] 1965 PEACOCK (ed) i, 118 "Culling Fish": We went to the super when arrangements were made, To send for the culler to test out the grade, / We got the bars ready, the board and the stand, / When Alfred appeared, a sworn-in man. 1953 Nfld Fish Develop Report 79 Cullers are licensed by the Government but employed by the fish buyers. T 43-64 There'd be a special culler, a man authorized to cull the fish for the firm, an' in later years a sworn-in culler, a government culler. 1979 TIZZARD 295 My father knew a great deal about culling fish, because he was a sworn-in culler for some years while he worked with the firm of George J Carter Ltd., Herring Neck, but it was not permissible for him to cull his own codfish.

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