Talk:tote
Some people say tote means carry and cite an old song called Old Man River, but in that song the words are "Tote that barge! / Lift that bale!". It doesn't seem plausible that the barge is being carried. There is some confusion between toting a barge and lifting a bale.
The barge is pulled with the rope over the shoulder. Then a tote bag is carried on the shoulder.