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The crest or symbol of Amicale Internationale (shown at right) is represented by the head of a white albatross on a blue
backdrop surrounded by a red circle with the name of the institution in white. From his
beak hangs a device in the shape of a diamond (shown below) caught by the albatross.
According to tradition, the sailors of the early sailing ships used to catch these huge birds and play them, as if they were kites. When the albatross took the bait,
the lure and pork would lodge in the curvature of the bird's beak, and as long as the line
was kept taut the bird would be unable to escape. According to European statistics more that 800 vessels have been lost in the waters off Cape Horn; and more than 10,000 seamen lie there |
In order to do this, they would tie a piece of salt pork to this special type of
lure, which was then tied to a thin line and cast into the ship's wake.
The sailor would play the bird, finally managing to lower it onto the deck. The birds were set free, for no
sailor would ever kill an albatross. Superstition says that these beautiful and
wandering birds are the souls of sailors who lost their lives at sea.