There is a thin line between being regarded as a genius or looking like a fool. A reliable way to err on the side of fool is to obtain all you're knowledge from a book. While at sea, fishermen apparently don't want to be reminded of the relative security of the land and have devised a range of superstitions and habits to banish all thoughts of it from their minds. A long list of land based creatures including pigs, rats, and rabbits are only referred to by nicknames, while priests and wearing green garments should be avoided. If a taboo is broken then touching metal disperses the bad luck and ensures that the boat wont sink. Far out to sea, as the Quarter Decker vessel heaved through an increasingly rough sea, my seaworthiness was called in to question, one minute the waves towered above us the next a great hole opened up in the boats path. I wasn't seasick but I failed to impress Larry, the skipper by asking if he normally went out when the sea was this rough. I went on to inadvertently mention rabbits whereupon my son remarked, "shouldn't you have said furry things instead of rabbits ?". A seagull perched on deck looked puzzled and flew off as I grabbed a metal winch in case the boat sank. I spent the rest of the trip explaining my theories to the skipper, who thankfully relied more on his ability to fix diesel engines and remembering to look over his shoulder every now and again to ensure that the bilge pump was still operating The only thing sinking was my ego. I'm still convinced that even in these enlightened days sea based superstitions exist and are secretly adhered to, practitioners may simply more cautious about admitting to their use. A boats luck will change along with its name, a coin dropped into the sea could cause a storm, never take a short cut heading to the shore and the first fish caught should be returned unharmed. Id be interested to hear if you know of any others.