Note 53 — ROMANCES OF FISHERMEN AND SAILORS.
Reading edition
Heva is shouted from the hills, upon which a watch is kept for the approach of pilchards by the “huer,” who telegraphs to the boats by means of bushes covered with white cloth, or, in modern days, with wire frames so covered. These signals are well understood, and the men in the seine and the other boats act according to the huer’s directions. The following song contains all the terms employed in this fishery; many of them, especially Could Roos, do not appear to have any definite meaning attached to them.
The song is by the late C. Taylor Stevens of St Ives, who was for some time the rural postman to Zennor. I employed Mr Taylor Stevens for some time collecting all that remains of legendary tales and superstitions in Zennor and Morva. The net is spelled sometimes Seine at others Sean.
“MERRY SEAN LADS.
“With a cold north wind and a cockled sea, Or an autumn’s cloudless day, At the huer’s bid, to stem we row, Or upon our paddles play. All the signs, ‘East, West, and Quiet, Could Roos,’ too well we know; We can bend a stop, secure a cross, For brave sean lads are we! Chorus—We can bend a stop, secure a cross, For brave sean lads are we! “If we have first stem when heva comes, We’ll the huer’s bushes watch; We will row right off or quiet lie, Flying summer sculls to catch. And when he winds the towboat round, We will all ready be, When he gives Could Roos, we’ll shout hurrah! Merry sean lads are we! Chorus—When he gives Could Roos, we’ll shout hurrah! Merry sean lads are we! “When the sean we’ve shot, upon the tow, We will heave with all our might, With a heave! heave O! and rouse! rouse O! Till the huer cries, ‘All right.’ Then on the bunt place kegs and weights, And next to tuck go we. We’ll dip, and trip, with a ‘Hip hurrah!’ Merry sean lads are we! Chorus—We’ll dip, and trip, with a ‘Hip hurrah!’ Merry sean lads are we!”