But in fact it is my impression that "yo-ho" or "yo-ho-ho" are rare cries in shanties, despite the non-folkies' impression that they are almost inevitably to be found therein ~~ thanks almost certainly to RLS's invention. His description of its use for that purpose, with Long John Silver as shantyman, at the beginning of ch 10 of Treasure Island, is precisely as described by all authorities; although historically rather too early, as Treasure Island is set about mid-C18, not that long after the battle of Fontenoy, 1745, in which the still quite young Dr Livesey had served, and so some time before the dates usually recognised for shanty-singing in the merchant services.

Are there, in fact, any true, authenticated shanties in any of the collections in which the "yo-ho" refrain appears. Only traditional song I can think of with it in is the Western cowboy song 'Santa Fe Trail'!

~Michael~