Many written-down versions of "The Banks of Newfoundland" list the following lines

We'll scrape her and we'll scrub her
with holy stone and sand,
And we'll think of them cold nor'westers
on the Banks of Newfoundland.

So now it's reef and reif, me boys
With the Canvas frozen hard
and this mountain pass every Mother's son
on a ninety foot topsail yard

On Mudcat's own Glossary of Scottish Words "Reif" is listed as "thievery" although it's unclear how that's related to the intended meaning in the song.   Also the The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia lists "reif" as an alternate spelling for "reef" when it means scabies.

Some other sources just spell the lyrics "reef and reef"? Any ideas which is correct? Thanks in advance for any thoughts or opinions.