bat n
   1 A stout pole, 5-8 feet (1.5-2.4 m) long with an iron hook and spike fastened to one end, used to assist a sealer on the ice and to kill seals; GAFF n 2.
   1842 JUKES i, 258 [They] prepared their bats and gaffs. 1846 TOCQUE 189 They are now easily caught, being killed by a slight stroke across the nose, with a bat or gaff. 1871 Zoologist vi, 2549 [The hoods make] it very difficult to kill them with the ordinary 'seal-bat,' or gaff, or even with a heavy load of shot. [1896] SWANSBOROUGH 29 "The Seal Fishery": The native sons with frames so strong, / Each with his gun, or bat in hand, / And round his shoulders with a band / He lashes on his bag of clothes. 1905 CHAFE 6 The procuring of timber from the woods, building vessels, repairing those already in use, building punts, procuring firewood, gaffstems, bats, pokers, oars and other material left nobody with an excuse for being idle. 1927 DOYLE (ed) 39 "Hunting Seals": With bat and gaff and 'panning staff' / Surmounted with a flag, sir; / Away we go on the great iceflow, / And we never care to lag, sir. 1934 BARTLETT 89 He could jump from one pan to another, using the seal bats, short, gaff-like hooks, as though he'd been born a Newfoundlander. T 49-64 We went on, and went on. We killed, I don't know how much we did kill now with the bat.
   2 Comb bat(s)man: member of sealing crew shipped to take seals with a club rather than a rifle; cp GUNNER.
   1842 BONNYCASTLE ii, 129 These gunners rank before the mere batmen, and have some trifling remuneration in the way of a remission of the charge of berth money, which the sealers pay to the merchant who supplies the vessel. 1878 TOCQUE 307 The berth money had been raised by the merchants and owners of vessels to three pounds, and three pounds ten shillings currency for 'batmen,' and one pound for bow or chief gunner, who had hitherto gone free. 1924 ENGLAND 108 The other ships must h'a' got wind of it, for pretty soon I see seven smokes comin' like a terrified horse. But my batsmen an' gunners cleaned up thousands that day, before them others could get to me. 1972 SANGER 235 Batsman. A term used during the sailing vessel era and early steamer period to refer to a sealer who was not permitted to use firearms.

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