Old salt

Quartermaster Dick Libby, USN, an Old Salt: "Twenty years in the Navy. "Never drunk on duty - never sober on liberty." Portrait painted circa 1834 by Charles O. Cole

An "old salt" in the English speaking naval services is often a raconteur, or teller of sea stories. Much of the history and traditions of the naval services are passed from generation to generation of service members by these sea stories as told and retold by old salts. Sea stories may be truthful, half-truths, or falsehoods, however they always enhance the reputations of naval and Marine units, or individuals.