stage n Cp OED ~ sb 4 f 'platform and other apparatus for drying fish' (1535-), DAE (1633-), DC 1 Nfld (1620-) for sense 1; for comb in sense 2: DAE ~ room (1628,1713).
1 An elevated platform on the shore with working tables, sheds, etc, where fish are landed and processed for salting and drying, and fishing gear and supplies are stored; FISHING STAGE.
[1589] 1972 PARMENIUS 175 [tr HAKLUYT] Beares also appeare about the fishers stages of the Countrie. 1613 Willoughby Papers 17a/ 1/2 Here is a good beach and the fishing neare, to be assured of a good place to fish and a beach, boats and stage may be worth more than one or tow hundreth pounds yearely for a shipp. 1620 WHITBOURNE 25 And if such Pirmaces and such Stages and Houses may be maintained and kept in such readinesse yeerely, it would be the most pleasant, profitable, and commodious trade of fishing, that is at this time in any part of the world. [1663] 1963 YONGE 56 The stages are begun on the edge of the shore, and built out into the sea, a floor of round timber, supported with posts, and shores of great timber. The boats lie at the head of them, as at a key, and throw up their fish, which is split, salted, &c. [1693] 1793 REEVES ii ... and liberty to go on shore on any part of Newfoundland ... for the curing, salting, drying, and husbanding of their fish, and for making of oil, and to cut down wood and trees there for building and making or repairing of stages. [1766] 1971 BANKS 134 When the Fish are Catchd they are Carried to the Stage which is built with one End Hanging over the water for the Sake of throwing away the offals into the sea & of their boats being able to Come close to them & Discharge their fish with ... little [trouble]. 1819 ANSPACH 430 The place where the operation of curing the cod-fish is performed, is a stage or covered platform erected on the shore. 1865 CAMPBELL 88 The stage, a long low building of fir poles and branches, is perched on the rocks, so as to project over the sea. It is like a long windowless house on a wooden pier. In this long room a number of double-beaked tin lamps hung flaring from the roof. 1868 HOWLEY MS Reminiscences 8 One man brought me through his stage to see the fish and I must confess I never saw so much green fish together before. 1924 ENGLAND 255 [proverb] An empty stage, an empty stomach. T 43-64 A stage now was a big building [that] was put up, 'twould be possibly fifty or seventy feet long and about thirty feet wide. Well now, that was built a-purpose for curin' your fish in. When you'd start gettin' fish you'd be in the stage both day an' night. 1977 Decks Awash vi (3), p. 28 It's a lot easier to handle our fish on our own stages. I can prong the fish from the boat to the truck when the water is high. 1979 NEMEC 257 A 'stage' is a plain wooden structure located above the high tide line and next to the 'landwash' or tidal zone. A wooden 'tramway' or plank walkway connects it to a wharf located at the water's edge... A stage functions primarily as a storage shed for 'saltbulk fish' and salt in the summer and nets and gear in the winter. 1980 Evening Telegram 20 Sep, p. 1 [The large catch] has caused a problem because many fishermen in the outer stations [of Labrador] have their stages full of salted cod and have been unable to sell it.
2 Attrib, comb stage beam: upright post supporting a fishing stage.
[1786] 1792 CARTWRIGHT iii. 224 Where the soil is pretty good [the trees] run clear and tall, and attain substance sufficient for shallop's-oars, skiffs-oars, stage-beams. rafters, longers. and other purposes, for which length is principally required.
stage door: entrance to a fishing stage on the landward side.
1977 RUSSELL 105 Grampa went to the stage door to make sure no one was listenin'.
stage head: see STAGE HEAD.
stage lamp, ~ light: makeshift lamp used in a fishing stage when handling the catch at night; FLARE-UP.
1934 Nfld Qt1y' v Apr, p. 12 "Jenkins the Fisherman Work by the stage-fight till the coming of daybreak.
1937 DEVINE 22 Flirrup—A stage lamp of large size.
1972 MURRAY 203 In summertime, if there was much nightwork in the stage, the women had to see that the
'stagelamps' and lanterns were trimmed as well. These 'stagelamps' were simply tin kettles holding perhaps a
pint of kerosene. The flames from the wicks were not covered and the light given off was a reddish-yellow
glow. There was a handle attached to the rim so that the lamp could be suspended above the working area
by means of a wire.
stage loft: area of fishing stage or premises where gear is repaired and stored; LOFT (P 209-73).
stage longer: long, thin wooden pole used as flooring. etc, of a fishing stage', LONGER.
1896 J A Folklore ix. 32 Stage-longers [are] from five to seven inches in diameter, forming the floor or platform of the fishing stage.
stage pole: see stage longer.
1866 WILSON 205 Upon these posts are nailed the stage-poles horizontally, which are the only floor of the building.
stage room: tract or parcel of land on the waterfront of a cove or harbour on which a fishing stage is erected; ROOM.
[1740-3] 1954 INNIS 96 [No planter is permitted] to keep any more stage room than he hath fishing men in possession for the managing of it. 1760 CO 194:15 Allowed to a Single Boat: Stage room 16 feet wide & 70 feet Long.
stage work: collectively, all the operations of landing and processing fish for salting and drying.
1972 MURRAY 247 'Stage work' was a communal activity and was lightened by a yarn, a song, a joke. Laughter helped the work along. 1977 Them Days 11 (3), p. 28 I used to do all the work in the house and then do me stage ... work long with it.
