Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-08-17
Sailors for Ages Given Over to
Superstitions.
MASCOTS ON SHIPBOARD
It Is Unlucky to Leave Port With
out Paying Your Wash
ing Bill.

From London TitBi's.
Why does a seafaring man-captain,
cook or cabin boy-consider it unlucky
to ship with a man who neglected to pay
his laundry bill?
Why does a sailor nearing port after a
lengthy voyage gather up old clothes and
shoes unfit for further use and ceremo-
niously commit them TO the deep?
Why does he like to sail on a ship
which displays a sharks tail firmly nail
ed to the bowsprit or jibboom'
Why does he like cats?
Why does he place great faith in the
merits of pig as weather prophet?
The simplest answer to these questions
is-because the average sailor is supersti-
tious.
Jonah Men" Not Wanted.
During rough weather at sea it would
be hard to convince any old-time sailor
that there wasn't a jonah aboard. Many
captains of the old school, who ought to
know better. are SO superstitous in this
respect that it is not uncommon for them
to take intense dislike to officers who
have happened apparently to be the har-
bingers of bad weather. and especially
fog. 1t is quite usual on board ship to
find members of the crew nicknamed
"Foggy Jones" Heavy Weather Bill or
'Squaly Jack
Cats on board ship are considered lucky.
and many stray one finds a comfortable
home and careful attention with Jack
for its friend. although, on the other
hand, our domestic pet has at times been
held responsible for the continuance OF
bad weather and had to play the part
of Jonah to the full extent.
Perhaps the most amusing superstition
of the sailor is considering it n crime for
any member of the crew to leave port
with his washing bill unpaid. as this
neglect is generally believed to be the
cause of bad weather being encountered
just after leaving port.
The ways of invoking the gods of the
elements to bestoW fair weather and
winds are numerous. Among the best
known is that when nearing port after q
lengthy voyage. Old clothes aand shoes
unfit for further wear are collected and
thrown overheard with much ceremony
and faith as to the ultimate beneficial
results which will carry the ship swiftly
and safely into harbor.
Mailing Up the Sharks Tail.
One Of the most curious superstitions
is that dealing with the capture of a
shark. The natural dread and antipathy
with which these monsters of the deep
with much rejoicing. All hands, from the
captain to the cabin boy, take keen in
terest in the operations, and, having sue
cessfully landed the shark on deck-a
proceeding that causes no little excite
ment-it is killed and its tail cut off.
This trophy is then nailed either on the
end of the bowsprit or the tibboom, and
is considered a valuable charm, capable
of having the power to bring the ship
fair winds and finest of weather. 1t is
not uncommon to see sailing ships lying
in port with this peculiar sign of the sail
ors superstition, but the custom is fast
dying out with the advent of the steam
ship, where the capture of a shark at sea
is a rare occurrence.
The killing of a pig at sea Is always an
occasion of much Importance, not only
for the reason that fresh meat Is to be
enjoyed-a great luxury on sailing ship
after, perhaps months of salt provisions
but also what is termed a 'tpig breeze
or favorable wind may be looked upon as
a certainty. Pigs. when kept on sailing
vessels, often let ont of their pens,
and their movements. which are believed
to foretell the state of the wind to be eX-
pected. are watched with keen interest.
Should pig show signs of laziness and
merely lie down or wander slowly about
the deck. this is considered sign OF
calm weather, with little or no wind in
prospect: but any freshness and "A great
amount of squealing are hailed as sur,
signs of winds. a necessary factor for the
navigation of a sailing ship.