shoreman n OED ~ 2 (Nf1d: 169[8]-); DAE (1670-); DC Nfld (1771-) for sense 1, 1958 quot for sense 2.
1 Member of a fishing-crew who processes the catch on shore; cp CUT v: ~ -THROAT, HEADER, SALTER, SPLITTER; SHORE1: ~ CREW.
[1663] 1963 YONGE 60 When the fishermen lade, or sometimes moor in the day, it's hard work for the shore men, so as they rest not above two hours in a night. [1698] CHILD 227 ... there being employed in that Trade two hundred and fifty ships, which might carry about ten thousand seamen, fishermen and shoremen, as they usually call the younger persons, who were never before at Sea. [1749] 1755 DOUGLASS i, 293 After the fish are headed, boned, split, and salted, the shoremen deliver one half the weight. [1767] 1954 INNIS 186 I pay for my part of the shoremen, the rest of the crew [are] on the common lay of this place. [1777] 1976 HEAD 89 [advertisement] For Harbor-Grace in Newfoundland. The Hannah and Lydia of Cork, John Collins will be ready to sail the 10th of April. For passage apply to said Master at Cove. Fishermen, Shoremen, and Youngsters. 1792 CARTWRIGHT Gloss i, xiv Shoremen. The people who are employed on shore, to head, split, and salt the codfish. [1810] 1971 ANSPACH 21 [The fish] is brought home and immediately landed on their respective stages, after which they return to their fishing, leaving the curing of it to the Shore-men or people, generally the wives, children and other inmates of the owner of the craft. 1832 MCGREGOR i, 228 On the same platform, is the salt-house, in which there are one or more tables, with strong wooden stools for four important personages among the shoremen, distinguished by the expressive cognomens of cut-throat, header, splitter, and salter. [1892] 1896 Consolidated Statutes of Nfld 955 Any fisherman, shareman, shoreman, mechanical or other servant, who shall absent himself from his employer's service without leave... P 54-63 Shoreman. A fishing establishment employing about twelve or more producers would divide them in a fishing crew and a smaller shore crew, the latter remaining on the 'room' to 'put away' (split and salt) the 'voyage of fish' and, later, to 'make' (sun-dry) it.
2 Resident fisherman who prosecutes the fishery in coastal waters, usu adjacent to his community; cp LANDSMAN.
1895 PROWSE 492 All along our northern coast the catch of seals by shore men was the largest on record. 1924 ENGLAND 150 Now, sealin's a pure luxury, with engines to do ahl the work, an' with bunks, an' hot food. Pooh! It ain't a man's game at ahl, now! Why, even the shore men thinks they got to have motor boats. 1947 TANNER 748 'Shore-men' are thus either resident or transient. The floaters and planters never penetrate the interior or even pass out of sight of sea-water as do the liveyeres, T 169/70-65 [There'd be] schooners for the Labrador. An' then we'd have the shoremen besides, see, an' codtraps home here, an' the hook-and-line-men. T 141/67-652 A lot o' we fellers in our generations, we've become plantermen. and got ahead in good many cases better than what the shoremen did.
