DCHP-3

squidding

DCHP-2 (Oct 2016)
n. — Fishing, Newfoundland

fishing for bait squid.

Type: 3. Semantic Change — Going after bait fish is 0f great relevance to traditional Newfoundland fishing activities. DNE, s.v. "squid (v.)" and "squidding", date this meaning from 1940 and 1955 respectively. As shown below, the activity can be traced back farther.

Quotations

1883
The Squids and Cuttles are much used in the Newfoundland and Labrador fisheries for cod, and on the Devonshire and Cornish coasts for baiting the long-lines -- there known as bolters -- for conger, skate, ling, and cod. [...] For the Newfoundland fishermen unbarbed hooks are specially made for squidding, but on ordinary haddock-hooks or small cod-hooks it suffices to file the barbs off, or bend them down after softening that part of the hooks by fire.
1894
There were sixty boats "squidding" yesterday afternoon, and got only an occasional haul in.
1914
SQUIDDING IN HARBOUR. -- The entrance to the harbour was swarming yesterday afternoon with boats which were engaged squidding.
1939
"I'm going squidding, Uncle Bill. What do I need for tackle?" Monty inquired. "You needs a jigger an' a reel, an' a line, boy. They're all in the punt an' you can 'ave 'em," offered Uncle Bill.
1944
Now if you ever feel inclined to go squiddin', / Leave your white shirts and collars behind in the town, / And if you get cranky, without yer silk hanky, / You'd better steer clear of the squid-jiggin' ground.
1956
SEVERAL BOATS have been out squidding in Holyrood this week. Good catches are be-made.
1977
All during the season, an onshore wind would send the smell of squid over the community. While some might find the odor offensive, those involved in the squidding would probably consider it to be the sweet smell of dollars being made.
1981
Early in August we hauled the trawls to go squidding full-time. Last week we were able to dry 400 pounds, and the squid are getting bigger now, so if the whales leave us a few, we might survive.
1993
Most Newfoundland fishermen treat squid largely as bait, and catch it as a pastime on summer evenings after a day's work. However, the Charleston area seems to have had an abundant stock of squid in recent years. They have been so plentiful that many of Charleston's fishermen make a significant part of their annual income from squidding during the few weeks when these molluscs are in the area.
1999
Kelligrews was the summer mecca for many families and we integrated with local lads and learned all the finesse of cod fishing, squidding, throwing a cast net for caplin, sculling a boat (even backwards).

References

  • DNE