Hi Tom
Why not answer that here so all can share & benifit from your findings. It would be greatfully appreciated.
Thanks
Barry

Hi Bob
I mentioned above the book "On Board the Rocket" by Captain Robert C Adams 1879 as something to be referenced. You may or may not have read it though others here may find it of use. It does not give what you're looking for, sorry. But it does end off with chapter XII "Sailor Songs" & give their (shanties) uses & the how to as they were applied going into debt discreptions about the "yips", "howls" & "yells" used by shantymen as well as how one would be able to tell what weather deck activies were going on by the type of shanty being lead & how one could forcast the weather from below by the resetting of sails. As to how one came upon this vocation it doesn't give a clue. An example, while crossing the Pacific it was somewhat erie how in one night we were able to become awakened by the flapping of sails when approching the doldrums & knowing before going on deck what was at hand, or when catching the trades once off the Hawaiian coast leaving behind a certain chop & tack & then catching a steading swell instead what was appearant but here Captain Adams explains even further how it is more apperant with songs added to the equation. Though not what you're looking for, still pretty interesting.

You may not know or remember me, I performed for the dedication of Gundlow the "Captain Ewards H Adams" in Portsmouth, NH. maybe 15-18 yrs ago. I was the other guy on the bill.
Good luck
See ya
Barry