Posted by andy clayton on April 19, 2002 at 19:24:16 from 195.93.33.159:
In Reply to: Re: Swimming cows (was: Enid Blyton's "Secret Island") posted by Charles Coull on April 19, 2002 at 08:27:36:
Re. swimming cows. On ships of the line in the 17-19Cs. It was normal to carry livestock in a pen at the front of the ship for the delectation of the officers. One of the acts during the process of clearing for action was to throw these unfortunate beasts over the side and tow them behind the ship or install the smaller creatures such as chickens in the long boat. In this way the animals and boat were out of the direct line of fire and stood a chance of surviving for the victory feast.(!) And there was not the inconveniance of fear crazed cattle stampeding around and interfering with the smooth running operation of communal slaughter. They wern't daft in the old days you know.