Obs. Also 8 bye-boat. [f. BY- + BOAT.] ? A supplementary or extra boat. Used esp. of the Newfoundland fishery; also attrib. in by-boat-keeper.
1698–9. Stat. Admiralty, Shipping, &c. (1810), Every Master of a By-boat or By-boats shall carry with him at least Two fresh Men in Six. Ibid., 26. Persons … that shall go over with their Servants to Newfoundland, to keep Boats on a Fishing Voyage, commonly called By-boat Keepers.
1708. Royal Procl., in Lond. Gaz., No. 4452/1. No By-Boat-Keepers should meddle with any … Cook-Room, Train Fat, or other Conveniency.
1796. Campaigns 1793–4, I. I. i. 1. Others were obliged to follow the transports in packets and bye boats.
