by-boat n also bye-boat OED ~ obs (Nfld: 1698-1796), cp OED by a 2 fig 'away from the main purpose,' 'of secondary importance'; DC by(e)-boat Nfld (1806), by(e)-boat keeper (1765-1842). See also BOAT.
   1 A fishing craft, usually undecked, of variable size, design and rig, owned and used in the inshore cod-fishery by men migrating annually as passengers to Newfoundland, the craft being left on the island on their return to the West Country of England.
   [1677] 1976 HEAD 78 By-boats. Besides the Inhabitants and the Adventurers, there are other Persons, that not being willing or able to buy a Share in the fishing ships hire Servants in the West of England and carry them as Passengers to Newfoundland where they employ them in private Boats to catch and cure fish, and after the Season is over bring them back to England, or permit them to take Service with the Planters, or on board the Ship. [1693] 1793 REEVES viii And be it further enacted ... That every master of a by-boat or by-boats shall carry with him at least two fresh men in six, (viz.) one man that hath made no more than one voyage, and one man who hath never been at sea before. [1714] 1895 PROWSE 274 Fishing ships 441, Boats 441, Bye-boats 133, Inhabitants Boats 362. 1956 FAY 43 The by-boat belonged to a merchant or fisherman in England, who employed a crew to operate his boat-the word 'by' may refer to its being laid 'by' for the winter, or to its being an 'extra' to the fishing ship. It represented a break from the fishing ship, inasmuch as the merchant concerned came out independently of the ship or bought his passage and worked with the crew during the season. At first the crews returned to their home base at the end of the fishing season, but increasingly they remained in the island and became resident fishermen.
   2 Attrib, comb by-boat fishery: cod-fishery prosecuted from small craft in coastal waters; BOAT FISHERY.
   [1792] 1954 INNIS 295 Every merchant is become a boatkeeper, and where one bye boat is lost many are kept by the merchants, so that on the whole the bye boat fishery is increased. [1806] 1956 FAY 135 Bye boat fishery wholly laid aside; formerly employed several thousands.
   by-boat keeper: man who operates inshore fishing craft; BOAT KEEPER. See also PLANTER 2.
   [1693] 1793 REEVES viii Every inhabitant shall be obliged to employ two such fresh men, as the by-boat keepers are obliged for every boat kept by them. [1701] 1954 INNIS 109 These byeboatkeepers can afford to sell their fish cheaper than the Adventurers which must lessen the number of fishing ships. 1793 REEVES 28 The private boat-keepers here spoken of, or bye boat-keepers, as they otherwise were called. [1794] 1968 THOMAS 172 The persons [Holdsworth) brought out with him were mostly Bye Boat Keepers, which are people who possess a Boat and leave her all the year in Newfoundland. 1819 ANSPACH 265 ... bye-boat- keepers, who were supplied by the merchants to whom they sold the produce of their voyage; these by-boat-keepers kept also a certain number of servants; and, in process of time, became resident planters. 1895 PROWSE 297 Bye-boat keepers were what we should now call planters or middle-men. They were not possessed of fishing ships, but they generally either had fishing establishments or hired them; they fitted out a number of men and boats; all who were independent sold their fish for the best price to sack-ships, traders, &c.
   by-boatman: fisherman engaged in the inshore cod-fishery in small craft.
   [1738] 1901 Christmas Bells 5 16 boats of inhabitants, 130 bye boatmen, 12,000 quintals fish. 1934 LOUNSBURY 112 The byeboatmen paid for 40s. to 50s. for a passage. Most of the men were able seamen, although from a fifth to a quarter were green. The byeboatkeepers made the voyage in small vessels, which carried enough men to provide crews for four or five of the larger ships operated by the adventurers.

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