SAILOR’S CRAYFISH

Evening Star, Issue 18052, 21 August 1922, Page 7

SAILOR’S CRAYFISH

A STRANGE MASCOT. “INSULT” AND CONSEQUENCE. A crayfish, or in fact any fish, seems to possess a strange fascination for a drunken man (says the Melbourne 1 Ago ’ of August 5). Tho sight of a crayfish, especially in a. shop window, will make him part with his last few coins. Not that ho ever uses the tiling as food by any chance —he rarely retains possession of it fox very long—but he views it more in the light of "an appropriate mascot, symbolical of his happy condition. One drizzly afternoon recently people passing down Collins street were treated to the edifying spectacle of a happy celebrant leading a largo barracoota on a piece of rope. Anon ho would stop to bathe it in the gutter or to admonish his finny companion not to obstruct tho traffic and to “ Come_ along home, you drunken brute.” Again, on Thursday night, throe jolly sailor men on leave from one of tho destroyers walked down Bourko street arm in arm with rolling gait. The good-humored theatre crowd considerately made way for them, and for the enormous cooked crayfish which the middle man led by a long string. All went well till a pedestrian side stepping to avoid a collision, inadvertently stepped) on the “mascot” and spoiled its beauty. The indignant owner expressed his opinion of the man in no measured terms, and included tho two policemen who walked up to prevent trouble. He was led away by his companions. still emitting a stream of profanity, but knowing well that a. sailor on leave after a, long cruise cannot bo held responsible for all bis actions, the voluble one was merely warned and allowed to pass on. Unfortunately for him, however, ho did not forget his grievance. Tho insult to his “mascot” rankled and he broke away from his friends and sought out tho interfering constables. In lieu of someone more worthy of attack ho abused the constables roundly. His language became 1 so lurid that ho was taken to tho lockup, fighting violently all the way. He was fined £2 for using bad language, and £1 for offensive behaviour and for resisting arrest, after protesting loudly that he never bought crayfish.