I know this is very late, but I just read the book. Check this link: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Citations:stowe Essentially, and I'm paraphrasing, a "stowe" is used to claim possession of a mine/seam. A "stowe" preserves a miner's possession for three weeks. The barmaster sets his "nick" on the spindle of the "stowe", thereby formally granting ownership for three weeks. If the barmaster nicks it 3 times (3, 6, or 9 weeks) the claim can be removed from the miner. If the claim remains for a certain period unwrought, unless by wind or water, the claim can also be removed from the miner and granted to another. Hence the author's sentence "I told them they did not need to wait again, for three weeks, six weeks, or nine" and "those who cannot pull a dish of lead within three nicks may not keep it" - three nicks being the equivalent of nine weeks.