"the hands at the windlass ... roared forth some sort of chorus about the girls in Booble Alley with hearty good will" -- surely "Haul Away For Rosie".

Hmm. Marryat also mentioned "Buble Alley" in his description of a "Sally Brown" chanty at the brake windlass in 1837 -- assuming that Booble Alley is what got you thinking?

It seems to me rather unlikely that they would be saying "haul away..." while heaving at the windlass. I do think it was possible that "booble alley" was being rhymed with "Sally," and even the phrase about "round the corner, sally," since that was in evidence in Melville's time.

Looks like the "Booble" phrase first turns up in evidence connected with "Haul Away Joe" in C. Sharp's 1914 collection.

Yes, Bruce, do elaborate on your interest. Why is "British/Irish/Scottish/Canadian" literature of interest? Is it (for example) to contrast with American literature (where one finds many more references)? I'm curious...