OMENS OF THE OCEAN.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4867, 19 August 1925, Page 3

OMENS OF THE OCEAN.

SOME CURIOUS SUPERSTITIONS. VIEWS OF THE OLD SAILOR. . Those holiday people who visit the old fishing villages of the West of England might leam some curious things about sea superstitions from the fishermen (says “John o’ London’s Weekly”). On a wet day, when one is perhaps at a loss to know what to do, a little- tactful conversation with the fine old fellows, some of whom followed the seafaring profession in the old sailing, days, might reveal some quaint things. For the old sailor was full of fads and fancies, and saw some omen, lucky or otherwise, in most happenings; though the modern salt, in , these days of steam and machinery, is more enlightened and sophisticated. Parsons were not liked aboard, since, they were credited with bringing bad luck and always got the blame for anything wrong, whilst the taking on board of a corpse was a serious matter, and men have often deserted rather than sail with it, and there was a time when the case con- .. gaining the body had to be disguised ’ and marked as ordinary cargo or the crew might mutiny and refuse to sail. , The breaking of. a rope was always a bad omen, and some serious accident wag certain to follow the snapping of an important cable. That “rats leave the sinking ship’’ we all. know, but it is; doubtful if sailors take much notice of that now.adays. It was believed that rats iknew .when a ship was doomed, and would scurry off. before she sailed, rand indeed they may sometimes be seen running shoreward along the hawsers just before the vessel’s de-parture-thought that may be because they do not want a sea voyage. The ancient fancy that the possession of an infant’s caul protected its owner from death by drowning has almost died out, though it is said that during the late war the advertisements reappeared and the caul soared to a prohibitive price. One cannot say whether in the ruthless submarining of the conflict a caul saved a life. __ Sailors are upeasy abput bells and sounds. - If a table glass is struck a hand is always put out to stop it ringing, as that act may save a man’s life. ; Cats, especially black ones, on board are lucky, but if the cat runs away in port it is very unlucky. During the war the black putssy was in great demand, and there were not enough to be had, and it is said that artful youngsters sometimes dyed the white patches- of other cats and ;broiight them aboard. But the dog was quite, another matter, and the presence of one on the ship was always. unlucky. Even to speak of a dog was taboo, and some of the old fishermen would not tolerate a dog near their boats or nets. A dog as a passenger meant a stormy voyage, and a ..dog howling in the night watches meant a wreck for certain. Sailors in the good old days had many curious ideas about the wind, but they seem to have varied a good deal'as regards latitude and in the different oceans and routes.. Thunder, also, according to its nature and the quarter from which it came, meant evil in one form or another. ■ . But the modern seafaring man does 'not bother his .head 'overmuch about most of these things.