salt n
1 [1985] MAHER 39 [The boat] brought a cargo of salt from Cadiz, Spain and landed it here to be used as fishery salt...sold to every part of the island.
2 1989 CANDOW 76 The pelts were stowed in wooden pounds in the holds, laid fat to fat and hair to hair, with crushed sea ice called 'sish' or 'salt' between each layer.
3 Phr sparing salt, spoiling fish: see spare the salt and spoil the scrod; under salt.
1937 DEVINE 73 [proverb] Sparing salt, spoiling fish. 1891 Evening Telegram 1 Aug At one harbor, we are told, 'large codfish could be seen swimming about the stage head, almost asking to be taken up and put under salt.' 1986 FELTHAM 43 It was [in the stage] that the cod were cleaned, washed and salted. After a number of days 'under salt' the cod were again washed and spread on the flakes to dry.
4 Attrib, comb ~ fish/saltfish, ~ fishing vbl n, ~ rock: see salt water rock, ~ ship, salt (fish) store, ~ vessel.
[1985] MAHER 45 A ship hulk...was used to store salt for the fisheries because...in those times Newfoundland put up and sold salt fish. 1987 FIZZARD 210 'On the draggers you had to make port at a certain time. It was not like when we were salt fishing, you'd wait and get your trip before you'd think about coming to land.' 1985 DOMSTAD 26 A salt rock was heated at night. [1985] MAHER 45 Salt ships arrived from Cadiz, Spain and Italy and tied up along side [the hulk]. 1977 WHITELEY 44 [part of one building in a diagram] salt fish store. 1987 Evening Telegram 4 July, p. 56 [tape transcript] The Haydens came back to Conception Bay and that winter they build their shacks, salt stores and bunkhouses. 1987 POWELL 86 There weren't enough vessels to carry all the salt that was needed to look after the fish. As each salt vessel arrived I would share the salt with the many crews in the harbours.
