Noreen, the phrase "silver darlin's" is / was a common term and was used by the people recorded by Parker and MacColl for 'Singing the fishing'. As I'm at work i can't check the persons name, but I remember the phrase occuring in a passage which goes along the lines of "..they talk to the fish, absolutely cajole them into the nets, spin up, spin up my silver darlin's.."

Can't help with the original request though.

Pete M