Interesting. While you guys are on the topic, in "Blow the man down" where the policemen says

I see you're a Black-Baller by the cut of your hair
And them long red top seaboots I see that you wear.
You've sailed in some packet that flies the Black Ball,
And you robbed some poor Dutchman of boots, clothes and all.

Which Black Ball Line would be referred to here, and why would the sailor have robbed a Dutchman? I'd always presumed the Black Ball Line was a line competing with his, since he's a tea-clipper sailor ("flying-fish sailor just home from Hong Kong"). Anyone know the history of this?

Graham.