358 APPARITIONS AT SEA. 



The fishermen who dwell on the coasts of the Baltic never 

 used their nets between All Staints' Day and St. Martin'& 

 Day, believing that any infraction of this rule would pre- 

 vent them from getting fish through the whole year. A 

 similar observance, for the same reason, was held on St. 

 Blaise's Day. They also considered sneezing on Christmas 

 Day a favorable omen for the ensuing year. 



The fishermen of Hartlepool preserve many old customs, 

 such as Carling and Palm Sundays, and Easter Day. At 

 Christmas the children sing carols, and sword-dancers go- 

 about the streets; and on the first Monday after the Epiph- 

 any, the stot or fool-plough (a small anchor) is dragged 

 through the town, and donations requested. 



Sailors have always had their prejudices with regard to- 

 certain days of the week. That ominous day, Friday, so 

 dark-lined to so many weak-headed individuals — not only at 

 sea but on shore — was and is still considered by many mariners 

 a blank day for sailing. A Cornish saying places Candlemas 

 Day as ill omened for sailing. Bishop Hall, speaking of a 

 superstitious man, observes, " he will never set to sea except 

 on Sunday." At Preston-Pans, it seems, that holy day was 

 usually selected for sailing to the fishing grounds: a clergy- 

 man of the town preached against this Sabbath-breaking,, 

 and the sailors, to prevent any ill befalling them in conse- 

 quence, made a small image of rags, and burnt it on the top 

 of their chimneys. 



Apparitions have always been a fruitful source of terror 

 to seamen. A few years ago half a dozen sailors on board a 

 man-of-war took it into their heads that there was a ghost in 

 the ship, and declared they smelt him. The captain laughed 

 at them, and called them a parcel of lubbers. A few nighta 

 afterwards they were in great terror, saying the ghost wa» 

 behind the beer-barrels. The captain, annoyed at their 

 folly, ordered a dozen lashes to each of them, which effectu- 

 ally stopped all talk about the spirit. When the barrels 



