Apparently another reference to Hugill-style, old-time "hitches":

Evening News (Sydney), Dec. 19, 1903, ref. to "many years ago:

"The accomplished chanty-man of the old-time ships, with a twist, and a quiver, and a roll, and a gurgle in his voice, would put fresh life into a toil-worn and despondent crowd, that had, maybe, been hard at it shortening sail, for sixteen hours on a stretch, in the teeth of four or five gales of wind, all tied together."