weather predictions by mariners poems:

"mackerel sky and mares tails, makes lofty ships carry low sails"

"when the wind shifts against the sun, trust it not - for back it will run"

"red sky in the morning is a sailors warning, but a red sky at night is a sailors delight"

"if clouds look as though scratched by a hen, get ready to reef your topsails then"

"when clouds appear like rocks and towers, the earth's refreshed by frequent showers"

the black jack (jolly roger)
In the 18th century, ships were treated as suspect unless identified friendly, so pirates just admitted their status. French pirates hoisted a red flag, the "joulie rouge", signalling "No quarter given", meaning no mercy or prisoners. This became anglicised into Jolly Roger. Later, infamous pirates had personally designed pennants, which could cause victims to surrender without a fight. These pennants also became known as Jolly Rogers. The modern day Jolly Roger is a mixture of parts of earlier pennants.
Ron MacKenzie, Ermington

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