balker

1. (obsolete) A person who stands on a rock or eminence to observe shoals of herring, etc., and to give notice to the men in boats which way they pass.Examples: "The Pilcherd are pursued and deuoured by a bigger kinde of fish, called a Plusher, being somewhat like the Dog-fish, who leapeth now and then aboue water, and therethrough bewrayeth them to the Balker […]"; "“Ye are caught, master wizard,” cried Fleetwood, laughing; “the balkers have marked their fish, and we hold you as our prize.[”]"; "For remedy whereof, and for the maintenance of the profitable trade of fishing, it is enacted that fishermen, balcors, huors, condors, guiders, etc., may enter lands near fishing-places to watch for and draw fish on shore, any law, usage, or custom to the contrary notwithstanding."Synonyms: huer, conderobsolete