The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

THE SEA BAT IS A VERY RARE NAUTICAL ANIMAL. THEY
AREN'T CAUGHT VERY OFTEN, BUT WHEN THEY ARE, THEY ARE
PUT IN A BOX. EVERYONE WHO HAS BEEN AT SEA FOR
AWHILE HAS SEEN A SEA BAT, BUT IT'S STILL A REAL
OCCASION. WHEN YOU CATCH ONE, YOU PUT IT IN A BOX
ON THE STERN OF THE SHIP. SEA BATS DON'T LIVE VERY
LONG, SO YOU PASS THE WORD FOR ALL WHO HAVEN'T SEEN
ONE TO COME WHILE IT'S STILL ALIVE. ALL THE NEW
SEAMEN GO TO SEE THE BAT, WHICH IS UNDER A BOX WITH
TWO PEEPHOLES TO LOOK INTO. YOU HAVE TO GET DOWN
ON YOUR KNEES TO LOOK IN. OF COURSE, THERE'S NOTHING
IN THE BOX. THE NEW SEAMEN REALLY GETS RAPPED IN THE
BUTT.

Submitter comment: BUT THERE REALLY ARE SEA BATS. THE INFORMANT SAW ONE
IN THE GOLDEN GATE PARK AQUARIUM. AFTER A LONG
BIOLOGICAL NAME, IT SAID "SEA-BAT."

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HAZEL PARK

Date learned: NOT GIVEN