dip v Cp OED ~ v 5 (1602 Co quot) for sense 1; cp DAE 2, 4 for sense 2; cp OED for sense 3 and EDD ~ sb 7 ~ net for sense 5 (a).
   1 To transfer fish from one holding area to another with a net, esp cod from a seine or cod-trap to another net, a boat or a 'fishing-stage.'
   1792 PULLING MS Aug Rowsell went one morning as usual to dip the salmon out of an adjacent pond where he was shot in several places and afterwards beheaded by the Indians. 1936 SMITH 83 They loaded their boat and then put the head of the trap on board my boat and began dipping in the fish; when all was dipped in I found my boat more than half loaded. T 80/3-64 I was the very feller that dipped all that in a boat and brought it in and pronged it on deck. T 43-64 A couple o' men would get back in the boat then an' go on an' dip in what was in the cod bags. T 31-64 I was bullyman in the skiff, and I had to dip [the fish] in and bring it aboard to the splitters. 1977 Them Days ii (3), p. 29 Johnny Straw was a salter, Jack Morris used to dip the fish with the dip-net, Bill Dyson was cut-throat.
   2 To remove (cod-oil, tanning liquid, etc) from one container to another.
   T 14-64 You'll take your spudgel and you'll dip out your tan out of the boiler and throw it on your twine and let it remain there all night. T 141/67-65² You'd heave in your buds an' you'd boil them now for three hours, an' you dip off that bark then. T 175-65 When the bark was strong enough, you'd put your linnet into the puncheons an' dip the bark out o' the pot an' put it in the puncheons.
   3 To immerse nets, sails, etc, in tanning liquid as a preservative; BARK v.
   [1794] 1968 THOMAS 62 In every Harbour, Creek and Cove there is what may be called a Parish Pott, this holds about 20 Gallons, and it is filled with water and Spruce Bark, which is boiled together; they then dip the netts of the Fishermen in to it, and the Sails of their Boats to which it is a great preservative... T 141/67-65² You take your [barrow] o' linnet an' you fill in your tub about half full. An' the feller on the other side'll haul it out—one feller dippin' it down, an' the other feller haul it out.
   4 Of young harp and hooded seals, to leave the ice-floes and take to open water.
   1873 CARROLL 28 The first rain after young seals are some twelve days old, they begin to 'dip' in the water.
   When young seals first begin to dabble in the water they require at least five days amusing themselves before they are able to get out of danger. 1895 Christmas Review 12 When the whitecoat commences to dip, he commences to change his coat. [1898] 1905 Nfld Law Reports 295 As a general rule seals will 'dip' (that is, take to the water) about the first of April, but if the sheets of ice hold solid they may remain on the ice for a few days longer. 1909 ROBINSON 74 As soon as they lose the white fur they take to the water, and once they begin to 'dip' the seal-hunter is unable to catch them, as they will take to the water, and are away in no time. 1924 ENGLAND 25 The young harps, better outfitted for life, keep their snowy dress for about a month, till nearly ready to 'dip' and go on their own. 1957 Evening Telegram 1 Apr, p. 3 Thousands of seals will soon be 'dipping' and will be lost to seal hunters, unless the ships can get out of ice in time.
   5 Cpd dip-net: (a) a circular net with a long handle used to scoop up caplin, herring, etc, in shallow water; KEEP NET; a net used to transfer fish from a seine or cod-trap into a boat or to handle it in the fishing-stage; (b) dandelion flower (see 1971 quot).
   1861 Harper's xxii, 595 The caplin swarm in millions, swimming so densely that often a dip net can be filled from a passing school. 1873 CARROLL 38 If not prevented by ice when spawning time arrives, the Herrings will swarm to the beach, always selecting a sandy one for such purpose, where they can be taken in seines, herring nets, cast or dip nets, in large quantities, so numerous are they in spawning time. [1889] 1897 Nfld Law Reports 382 This quantity so obtained was not more than six dip-nets full. 1899 Tribune Christmas No 15 A large boat is ... moored to one corner of the trap and the work of [underrunning] begun, the object being to force the fish into one corner that they may the more easily be transferred to the boat by the dipnet. T 194/6-65 An' he wi' the dip net was right up forrard. 1971 NOSEWORTHY 192 ~ s. The yellow flowers of 'dandelions' which grow in gardens and back yards all spring and summer. P 122-73 ~ A net used for taking fish from the large splitting tub. This is made of twine and has a rounded metal portion connected to long wooden handle. 1974 SQUIRE 21 The caplin were taken from the seine by a small net with a handle attached. This was called a dip-net. 1979 Salt Water, Fresh Water 40 Then the dip-net is lowered, and you dip the net into the fish that's out in the trap out beside the boat.

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