This appears to behave as described on at least VAX VMS V7.3 MultiNet
V5.1 Rev A-X but not on Alpha VMS V8.3 V5.2 Rev A-X or I64 VMS V8.3 V5.2
Rev A-X (three platforms I have access to).

$ echo `perl -e 'print "a"x1000'` | nc -v host.name 79
Connection to host.name 79 port [tcp/finger] succeeded!

I guess we can assume the 'group of lads' would be keeping an occasional
eye on c.o.v. :-)

--
So you run and you run to catch up with the sun but it's sinking
Racing around to come up behind you again.
The sun is the same in a relative way but you're older,
Shorter of breath and one day closer to death.
[Mason, Waters, Wright, Gilmour; The Dark Side of the Moon]