It's the Great Seal of Approval. According to legend, he comes up to sailors far away at sea under duress and when it appears, it brings about a calming effect on the weather. Sailors of all nations and genders have courted his favors when the going gets rough. For reasons lost in antiquity, he has come to be known as Ralph.

Even in these modern times, you can hear sailors call at the rail for him, when they fear for their lives in high weather.

Sometimes several of them join voices in order to improve their chances of luring him from deep waters. They speak in gruff seal-like harmonies, leaning over the ship's rails and calling "Ralph!! Ralph!!" while casting offerings of specially prepared libations and foodstuffs -- nothing you would like, special formulae handed down from antiquity -- upon the waters.

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