DCHP-3

bay boat

DCHP-2 (Nov 2012)

Spelling variants:
bay-boat, Bay boat

n. — historical; Newfoundland, Transport

a boat that carries supplies, passengers and mail to small settlements not served by the coastal boats that stopped at more accessible or larger settlements.

Type: 1. Origin — The term bay boat describes a vessel that stops at various coastal settlements, 'outports', around Newfoundland (see DNE, s.v. "bay" (4)). A bay boat may carry passengers (see the 1906 quotation), mail (see the 1900 quotation) and supplies (see the 1975 quotation) along a designated route. Bay boats serve as the primary means of transportation to remote areas. Many of its earlier written attestations relate to petitions created by smaller settlements which desired better access (see the 1904 quotation). The term bay boat derives from the fact that boats were travelling to and from different bays along the coast, such as Placentia Bay (see the 1928 quotation), explaining the spelling variant of "the Bay boat" (see the 1938 and 1975 quotations). Bay boat is used in opposition to coastal boat, which does not stop along most bays (see the 1914 and 1938 quotations).
See also COD-2, s.v. "bay boat", which is marked as "Cdn (Nfld)" and DNE s.v. "bay" (4).

Quotations

1900
DEAR SIR, Just a few words to let the public know the way we are treated by the Tory mail service. [...] We are a population of 300, and pay our share of taxes the same as other parts of the country, and do not see why we should be deprived of a boat calling here, particularly, as for the past eight years the bay boat has been calling regularly.
1904
If the bay steamer could call there it would be a great convenience to the people of Lawrence-town as well as those of Northern Arm. He, the Premier, said, that now the new coastal contract for large steamers had been arranged, possibly one of two of the ports of call of the old route of the bay boat could be dropped and the petition granted.
1906
Outside of the coastal boat trouble the mail service generally in the district of Fogo is not at all what it should be. Every other district on the island has its first class bay boat or railway to convey mails and passengers from place to place, but the mode of travel in two thirds of Fogo district is, to say the least, very antiquated.
1914
I beg to present a petition from Boxey, Fortune Bay, asking that English Harbour West be made a port of call for one of the coastal boats. [...] The people think if the coastal boat called at that placed their needs and requirements could be met. [...] There is quite a lot of trade done in that part of the district and while the Bay boat calls at all these places the coastal boat does not make the connection.
1928
Accessibility - North Harbour at the river's mouth is a port of call for the bay boat from Argentia.
1938
At the end of June, by permission of the Government, I had taken the Bay boat Sebastopol down the Bay, and brought this mental case to our house to await transportation to the coastal boat Meigle from Belleoram to St. John's.
1975
There was, however, another means of transportation: the "Bay Boat" that used to leave every week from St. George's Bay and go around the Port-au-Port. The boat took passengers and merchandise. Mmme Dubé took the boat to go back to la Grand 'Terre after working for three years at La Barre.
1985
I see again, as I read, "the big steam-tug closely flank'd on each side by the barges, the bay-boat, the belated lighter."
2006
In the days when most Newfoundland communities were linked only by sea Lewisporte was home to the "bay boat" S.S. Clyde. Found near the head of Burnt Bay in the Bay of Exploits (part of Notre Dame Bay), Lewisporte fills the role of distribution centre for the Northeast Coast, central Newfoundland, and Labrador north to Nain. Its modern role as a shipping entrepôt has earned Lewisporte the moniker "The Gateway to the North."

References

  • COD-2
  • DNE