span n
Comb span board: board fastened across the centre of a 'fish barrow' to strengthen the surface on which the load is carried (1975 BUTLER 183).
span line: rope running from main buoy to the 'leader' of a cod-trap (1975 BUTLER 178).
1936 SMITH 84 At last they arrived, took up the spanline and overhauled the cod-trap. T 43/7-64 Span line goes from the end of the leader across the trap through the centre keg. When you go to haul the trap you get this span line up across the skiff and then you pull up your doors. T 194/5-65 When I went up and hooked the span line, old man, the dawn was broke, and the moon was shining; 'twas almost daylight. P 9-73 The spanline is fastened to the offshore end of the leader and it in turn is fastened to the centre buoy and mooring; the mooring is then run out and the anchor or grapnel is dropped overboard. The spanline is picked up by the boat with the cod trap on board, in such a way that it is across her middle. From the middle of the spanline four ropes are laid out, one for each corner. P 9-73 The boat comes up to the trap and the second hand (mate) stands by with the boathook, he hooks up the spanline buoy and lifts the line over the boat's head and passes it back to her middle.
