Banana Superstitions

[swinginFish]

When bananas ripen they give off ethylene - a gas that hastens the ripening of other fruit. On ships that used to transport fruit, a few ripening bananas in the hold could cause a shipment of other items to spoil -the lost revenue tended to piss off the ill-paid crew (folks didn't know from ethylene back then), so bananas got a bad rap amongst traditionally superstitious sailors.

I, too, bring 'em along on the kayak, but not on boats. Have caught fish while eating them, as well as just after tossing a peel in the water. Am one for fishing mojo (never - I mean NEVER - wash my fishing hat), and evade bad fishing juju, but thus far, can't say as banana's on the water do anything but taste good.

AE