Show STRANGE SIGNS ON SHIPS have little meaning to the uninitiated but A are re plainly understood by sailors strange signs frequently hang from ships which puzzle even dwellers in seaport towns to guess the meaning of A basket slung from the mainmast head Is a sailors sign to notify that the cargo has been loaded or discharged as the case may be and that the ship Is ready to start on her next trip thle thi she cannot do until the usual board of trade formalities have been observed and the ships papers rs which while a ship Is in port are deposited with the board of trade havo bavo been returned to the captain A generally mysterious emblem Is a besom lashed to a mainmast or bridge railing this is to signify that the vessel is for sale occasionally a dark blue stripe may be seen running fore fora and aft on a vessel as a matter of fact this Is a sign of recent bereavement blue is the sailors sal lorB mourning and the stripe ot of this color takes the place of the black margin or band used by the landsmen landsman lands men as a notification of death |