mysql command legth limit? 10.1.44-MariaDB-0ubuntu0.18.04.1

I am executing a create table command. If the character count in the single line create table command is greater than about 2950 characters I get Error: 1118 Row size too large. However, If I reduce the columns defined in the create command to less than about 2950 the create command executes and creates the table. Please note this has nothing to due with adding data to the table; I am just attempting to create a table with a bunch of columns.

Example1: no problem CREATE TABLE `xxx` ( `COL-1` VARCHAR(256) DEFAULT NULL,`COL-2` VARCHAR(256) DEFAULT NULL ) ENGINE=MYISAM

Example1: generates error 1118, where total character count is greater than about 3000 CREATE TABLE `xxx` ( `COL-1` VARCHAR(256) DEFAULT NULL, ... `COL-500` VARCHAR(256) DEFAULT NULL ) ENGINE=MYISAM

Is there a command line (keyboard buffer?) setting? I know another option is to use a multi-line command; What is the recommended EOL character?

Thanks

C -