This one I was exposed to while I was a skimmer on the USS Robert A. Owens (DD827). We were out on our shakedown after the JP-5 fuel conversion (at least I think that's what we converted to). Anyway, there was a big commotion on the fantail. I went back there and everyone was talking about the "sea bat" that was just captured. Well, I had been in the Navy a while by then and figured that this was one of those jokes often pulled on the new guys. So, I stood around and watched. When asked, I said I'd already seen one. Sure enough, a fresh young SA walked up and set "Let me see it." Well, alledgedly the creature was in a cardboard box on the fantail. The newby was told to bend down low and look under the edge of the box. They couldn't lift the box any higher for fear the sea bat would escape. So, like the rookie he was, he bent over as low as he could. just as the box was lifted, someone smacked him in the butt with a broom. To make this one even funnier, the guy turns around and says "hey, knock it off" and immediately turns around, assumes the position so he can see the sea bat. Some folks should have probably stayed on the farm. I think he caught on after he got whacked a second time.