For it is to this day the custom of the sea, when a man-of-war crosses the Equator, such of her people as have never crossed before be initiated with ancient ritual into the Brotherhood of Shellbacks, who are Neptune's children and under his special protection

- John W. Thompson, Jr

Many thanks to Bob Plake (Plank Owner and Shellback)
for the loan of his commemorative booklet that
is the source of these pages.