Did pirates eat seafood?

And while seafood wasn't a staple of a pirate's diet, they might still have the occasional haul of fresh food from the open water. Even sea turtle eggs could find their way onto the menu if a pirate happened to spot a likely source.
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What food did pirates eat at sea?

Dried food, such as beans, pulses and sea biscuits were the main staple on long voyages as well as salted meat and pickled vegetables and fruit. Because the supply of fruit and vegetables lasted such a short amount of time, pirates would frequently suffer from malnutrition caused by lack of vitamin C.
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Why did pirates not eat fish?

Despite being at sea, pirates were not known to eat fish because fishing was too time consuming and they weren't able to catch enough fish to make it worth it. Instead, dried plants, beans, and legumes were popular foods that provide fiber for pirates at sea.
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What did pirates drink while at sea?

Fresh water was extremely difficult to keep clean during long voyages at sea. Water was stored in barrels and quickly became stagnant and unsafe to drink. However, adding rum to the water made it safe to drink. In fact, rum played a big part in the history of the British Royal Navy.
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Did they fish on pirate ships?

According to Owlcation, pirates usually didn't fish, because not only did it take up too much of their time, but it also didn't yield enough food to even be worth it. With today's fishing technology, we imagine pirates might live completely different lives.
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What Did Pirates Eat?



Did pirate ships have toilets?

Pirate ships didn't have toilets. Instead, they had “heads,” which were basically holes cut into planks that emptied into the water. The plank and hole were usually located at the head of the ship. The term is still used to describe toilets on ships, among other places, today.
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What do they call a female pirate?

1 Answer. The term pirate, or more appropriately, privateer, is gender neutral.
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What did pirates used to smoke?

Pirates and their tobacco addiction

Unsurprisingly the most popular was the smoking of shredded leaves in a clay pipe, probably because of its simplicity. If no pipes were to be had they would also roll cigarillos (long, thin cigars) with scraps of papers.
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Why do pirates say Arrr?

Pronounced also as “Yarrr!” and “Arg!”, the word “Arrr!” is traditionally said by pirates when responding "yes" or when expressing excitement.
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Why are there no female pirates?

On many ships in the Golden Age of Piracy, women were prohibited by the ship's contract (required to be signed by all crew members) due to being seen as bad luck and due to fears that the male crew members would fight over the women.
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Did pirates have rotten teeth?

Scurvy was a serious problem.

Pirates were often the victims of scurvy because they spent months at a time on the open seas with no access to fresh fruits and vegetables. It wasn't uncommon for pirates to have missing teeth due to poor gums.
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How did pirates not get dehydrated?

Back in the day, long-haul pirates and the sailors of the British Royal Navy didn't just use rum for recreation. To keep the crew hydrated, ships typically stored three types of liquid sustenance: water, beer, and rum.
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What did pirates actually eat?

Vegetables and meat were usually pickled or salted to preserve the food. Ships on long voyages relied on biscuits, dried beans and salted beef to live. For drinking, seamen chose beer or ale rather than water.
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What did old time sailors eat?

The main rations were salt beef or pork, cheese, fish, ale and some form of ship's biscuit. The quality of food deteriorated because of storage problems, lack of ventilation, and poor drainage. It was also affected by the presence of rats and other vermin on board.
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What did pirates eat to prevent scurvy?

The British began storing citrus fruits on board all of its ships. The British Navy gave its sailors limes or lemon juice rations to ward off scurvy – earning them the nickname of "Limeys" among the American sailors who didn't know about or believe in the preventative treatment.
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What did pirates use as toilet paper?

As toilet paper had not been invented the men would either have to use bits of old rag or rope to clean their back sides or sometimes there was a communal bucket and sponge. Urination was either into buckets or directly over the side. Some men did urinate against the side of the ship or onto the deck.
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Did pirates sleep in beds?

Some of them slept on hammocks. Others slept on the floor. It was easier for them to sleep on hammocks because they swayed and rocked with the ship's movements. They also didn't have to worry about falling off beds during storms or high tides.
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How did pirates stay clean?

Pirates were very well known for their lax personal hygiene habits, and in fact the term “pirate bath” refers to a quick wash wherein you was only your private parts and armpits with water (in the case of pirates this was often seawater).
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What do pirates call the toilet?

The head (pl. heads) is a ship's toilet. The name derives from sailing ships in which the toilet area for the regular sailors was placed at the head or bow of the ship.
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What do pirates call their lovers?

matey (or mate)
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Who was the most violent pirate?

1 – Blackbeard

Easily the most famous buccaneer on the list and possibly the most terrifying pirate of all time, Blackbeard had a reputation of horrific magnitude in his day.
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What time did pirates go to bed?

Bedtime was set at eight o'clock each night and all lights and candles had to be put out at that time. If any of the crew stayed up drinking, it had to be done up above on the upper deck. All pistols and cutlasses/knives were kept clean and in good working order. No women were allowed on board.
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Why were pirates so dirty?

Bad Hygiene Practices

With limited living space and lots of people living in a small space, bad hygiene was prevalent on most pirate ships. Not only did pirate crew members have to live and sleep with individuals who were sick, the bathroom situation was also responsible for creating a dirty and smelly environment.
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Did pirates have syphilis?

6. Blackbeard probably had syphilis. When he held prisoners for ransom, such as the Governor's son during the week-long Charlestown blockade in 1718, he asked for expensive medical supplies. This included mercury which, when injected through a urethral syringe, was a common (ineffective) treatment for syphilis.
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