The Superstitious Occupation of the Sailor Quiz

Answer: Working as a lookout

The crow's nest was a platform, basket or barrel that was located on the upper part of the main mast of large sailing ships. It was his job to watch out for other ships, land on the horizon, icebergs, and often for aquatic prey such as whales. For centuries real crows were carried on ship to help with navigation.

It was believed that if you were lost, you could release a crow from the crow's nest and he would fly directly to the closest land. This is the origin of the phrase "as the crow flies", meaning the most direct route.

Answer: Cats with six toes

British sailors carried cats aboard ship to help with control of rodents, which was always a problem. Polydactyl cats, or cats with extra toes, were considered to bring good luck and help keep bad storms away. Many islands have polydactyl cats descended from cats brought to their shores by British sailors.

It is known that ancient Egyptians also liked to keep cats on their ships for the same reasons.

Answer: He kidnapped a crew for the ship

A crimp was the man responsible for kidnapping men and forcing them to work on a ship. This usually involved getting the men drunk, and then engaging in bribery, trickery and sometimes physical force. Once you were on board and the ship left port, there was not a lot you could do.

It was not uncommon to see a few men at a new port who were trying to get a job on board a new ship coming in that were trying to make their way back home after being kidnapped and forced to work as a sailor. Impressment was the term used for a similiar practice when done by the British Royal Navy who ended the practice in 1814 after the defeat of Napoleon.

Answer: An aquamarine pendant

Early sailor often carried talismans made of aquamarine and carved into the shape of the god Neptune. They were also known to wear them on a string around their neck. Sailors believed the aquamarine protected them from the dreaded storms and monsters of the sea. Many sailors were known to keep aquamarines under their pillows to help with a good night's sleep.

Answer: Up the sail masts

Sailors who were assigned to work on the sails and the poles were called riggers. They scampered about, way above the deck, unfurling the sails and tying them back up when needed. While there was not really safe jobs aboard ships in the past, being a rigger was one of the most perilous.

The constant risk of falling from the slippery spars located high above the rolling deck made this one of the most dangerous jobs of all.

Answer: Medical officer

The ship's carpenter was responsible for the maintenance and repair of the wooden masts and the hull. He was also usually the medical officer and would perform amputations with the same wood working tools that he used on the ship (usually without the benefit of anesthetic).

Answer: Rap on the wood with their knuckles

Sailors would knock on the wooden hull of a ship before signing on, so that they could listen for wood rot or worms. Hearing a solid sound would indicate that the hull was in good shape and seaworthy, and was a sign of good luck. Sailors thought wood was a source off good luck and were known to say "touch wood" or "knock on wood" while rapping their knuckles on their ship's hull to invoke good luck for many different reasons.

There are those who believe that this practice carried over through the years and may be the origin of such sayings as "Knock on wood" and "Rub it on wood/Sure to be good" .

Answer: A woman

Most men were afraid to be a sailor. The dangers were many. This may be one reason sailors were such a superstitious group. Women were usually considered to be very bad luck and were believed to cause dead calm and/or high winds. Mermaids and sirens were depicted as women and were believed to lead a sailor to his death if he listened to their haunting songs.

It was not uncommon to force adolescent orphans, prisoners, and slaves to become sailors.

Answer: True

In the past, it was often considered to be bad luck to have women on board. But occasionally women were smuggled onto the ship before it set sail. During the long trips at sea, these women often became pregnant. Childbirth while at sea was usually carried out between the cannons on the guns deck.

The birth of the child was recorded in the ships log and the child was referred to as "a son of a gun". Also being born aboard a ship was considered to be very lucky and was thought to ensure the child a safe life as a sailor once he was grown.

Answer: False

Some scholars thought that the idea of walking the plank was a myth that was created by Hollywood films. The phrase "walking the plank" is first recorded almost a century before in 1788, author Francis Grose's work "Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue". This act was usually only used by mutineers and pirates.

While the act is often seen in pirate movies it was not a common phenomenon. Sailors believed that walking the plank ensured you a quick trip to "Davy Jones Locker".