So, the watches composed of people who didn't themselves have Shanties "naturally" picked up the songs from these other watches? It seems, then, that no "mediation" was required ( you'll know what I'm getting at here). And what did those watches sing before learning these work-songs? Where did the Shanty-singing watches get their Shanties? Were these composed by persons more educated, literate, leisured &c. than the ordinary sailors? I wish I knew how to do that "link" thing at bottom right to a couple of other posts.