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saving
DCHP-2 (Mar 2014)
Spelling variants:saving trip, saving voyage
adj. — Fishing, Newfoundland, dated
a profitable fishing or sealing endeavour; in combinations saving trip and saving voyage.
Type: 3. Semantic Change — In Newfoundland, the adjective saving, in conjunction with the nouns "trip" or "voyage", describes a fishing or sealing excursion that is 'moderately successful or profitable' (see COD-2, s.v. "saving voyage", see, e.g. the 1946 quotation). The OED-3 lists a precursor to this definition, 'incurring neither loss nor gain; not winning or losing', with quotations dating back to 17th-century England (OED-3, s.v. "saving" (a.3)). The expression was likely carried to Newfoundland with southwest English settlers and then semantically narrowed to the fishing context (see Clarke 2010b: 118).
As Chart 1 shows, the term is most frequently used in Canada, with Newfoundland taking the overwhelming lion's share (though a provincial chart is not possible).
See also COD-2, s.v. "saving voyage", which is marked "Cdn (Nfld)", DNE, s.v. "saving", and OED-3, s.v. "saving" (a.3)), which is marked "Canad. (Newfoundland)".
As Chart 1 shows, the term is most frequently used in Canada, with Newfoundland taking the overwhelming lion's share (though a provincial chart is not possible).
See also COD-2, s.v. "saving voyage", which is marked "Cdn (Nfld)", DNE, s.v. "saving", and OED-3, s.v. "saving" (a.3)), which is marked "Canad. (Newfoundland)".
Quotations
1766
1971 BANKS 134 200 Quintals a boat is Calld a saving Voyage, but not under.
1881
Before the introduction of steamers for the prosecution of the seal fishery, the delay of ten or fifteen days or even longer, after the usual time for sailing would not likely be attended with the same disastrous results as at present, as the seals would remain undisturbed, and if the sailing craft could not get to them early they would be most probably to secure at least a saving trip before the termination of the voyage.
1899
The Walrus was seen in the distance, but did not appear to have much on board. There is a possibility, however, of her securing a saving trip if the weather continues as it is at present.
1915
It is to be hoped that the storm of to-day will break up the ice blockade and enable the fleet which for nearly a fortnight has kept the sealers from the seals to reach the body of seals and enable them at all events to make a saving trip.
1931
The sealing voyage up to the present time is not so promising as one would desire, but while the time has about passed for the securing of much more fat, yet before the closing of the voyage there is ample time for securing a saving trip of old seals.
1946
The majority of the schooners have sailed to northern fishing ports and at mid-August the "Winnifred Lee's" report was anything but favourable. The only schooners to record anything in the nature of a saving trip was the "Rostellan", Captain James Tiller, Wesleyville, 900 qtls. and Captain David Sturge with 700 qtls. from the same port.
1955
Mr. Andrew Moores is erecting a fishing premises just east of what was formerly Noel's Mattress Factory. We understand he intends to prosecute the shore fishery, and he has our good wishes for a saving voyage.
1963
That summer the catch of fish was low and bait was scarce, and in order to make a saving voyage, Holman and his crews stayed longer at the fishery than they ordinarily would if the voyage had been a bit more successful.
1984
The failure of the inshore fishery caused another innovation. In 1715 a Devonshire ship owner fishing at Renews found the inshore fishery so bad that in desperation he sent a shallop (an open fishing boat) fishing on the Grand Banks. It made a "saving voyage," and in turn eventually saved the migratory fishery -- especially that part which was carried on from South Devon.
References
- OED-3 • "saving"
- DNE
- Clarke (2010b)
- COD-2
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