NAVAL CUSTOMS.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 186, 14 August 1901, Page 1

NAVAL CUSTOMS.

A curious tact, not generally known, is that the black silk handkerchief which Jack knots around his throat was first worn as mourning for Nelson, and has ever since been retained. The three white stripes around the broad blue collar of the sailor’s jumper commemorate the victories of Trafalgar, Copenhagen and the Nile. Thus the Nelson legend affects not only Jack’s work, but his food and clothing as well. Tho broad blue collar itself is older than the great Admiral. It was first adopted at that period when sailors plastered their hair into a stiff pigtail with grease and powder. At 9 o’clock each night the sentry in every ship in harbor fires off his rifle. For the origin of this custom we may have to look back to the days of fliufc-locks. Then in order to test the priming and see that his weapon was in usable condition, the sentry had to fire it off oach night. There is no necessity for such a test with modern rifles ; but the 9 o’clock firing is religiously carried out. Every officer or man climbing to tho quarter-deck salutes. The origin of this usage dates back a long way. When England was a Roman Catholic country a crucifix stood on the quarter-deck of all ships. Every time any of the crew crossed themselves. Out of that has grown the custom of saluting the quarter-deck.