A “monster” riddle about fish and chips is:
Q: What do sea monsters eat?
A: Fish and ships.
The joke has been cited in print since at least 1966.
“What does a physicist have for lunch?"/"Fission chips” is another “fish and chips” riddle.
5 July 1966, Toronto (ON) Daily Star, pg. 21, col. 5 ad:
Joe: What do whales and sea-monsters eat?
Moe: I don’t know.
Joe: Fish and ships.
(Thorncrest used cars.—ed.)
16 September 1973, The Sun-Herald (Sydney, Australia), “Ha Ha Ha,” Comic Sec., pg. 6, col. 2:
Q. What do sea monsters eat?
A. Fish and ships!
-- Frances Schembri (12), cartwright
13 November 1976, The Guardian (UK), Richard Boston column, pg. 9, col. 2:
What do sea monsters eat? Fish and ships.
16 August 1979, Newsday (Long Island, NY), “Smiles,” Kidsday, pg. B18, col. 3:
What do monsters eat?
Fish and ships.
-- Nina Potash, Malverne
22 February 1983, Morning Advocate (Baton Rouge, LA), “A Little Bit of humor,” The Bubble Gum Rapper, pg. 1, col. 3:
Lynn: What do sea monsters eat?
Chris: Fish and ships.
Google Books
Jokes:
Outrageous bits, atrocious puns, and ridiculous routines for those who love jests
By Paul Dickson
New York, NY: Delacorte Press
1984
Pg. 63:
What do sea monsters eat?
Fish and ships.
17 October 1987, The Times (Trenton, NJ), “Good Humor,” pg. B1, col. 1:
Katie Gonyer of Stark, N.H. asks: “What do English sea monsters have for dinner?”
“FIsh and ships.”
Google Books
Smart Alec’s Revolting Jokes for Kids
By Ward Lock & Co Ltd
New York, NY: Ballantine Books
1989, ©1987
Pg. 210:
What’s a sea monster’s favorite supper?
Fish and ships.
Google Books
Monster Mayhem:
Jokes to Scare You Silly
By Sam Schultz
Pictures by Brian Gable
Minneapolis, MN: Carolrhoda Books, Inc.
2003
Pg. 27:
Q: What do sea monsters eat for dinner?
A: Fish and ships.
Twitter
Dani
@Doduti
what did the sea monster eat? fish and ships
9:50 PM - 21 Nov 2008
Google Books
Scooby-Doo Monster Jokes
By Michael Dahl
Illustrated by Scott Jeralds
North Mankato, MN: Stone Arch Books
2015
Pg. ?:
What do sea monsters like to eat?
Fish and ships!
Above, a 1934 plaque from the Big Apple Night Club at West 135th Street and Seventh Avenue in Harlem. Discarded as trash in 2006. Now a Popeyes fast food restaurant on Google Maps.
Recent entries:
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“How it feels to click the tongs twice before you start grilling” ("I have the power!") (3/19)
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Entry in progress—BP (3/19)
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“Coffee—A tasty cup of caffeinated sanity in an uncertain world” (3/19)
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More new entries...
Above, Big Apple Corner at 54th Street and Broadway in Manhattan. Google Maps.
Above, John J. Fitz Gerald, from the Aug. 15, 1931, Binghamton (NY) Press, pg. 14.
Listen to Robert Emmerich introduce "The Big Apple," a hit song from 1937. Music written by Bob and performed by Tommy Dorsey's Clambake Seven with Bob on piano. Lyrics written by Buddy Bernier and sung by Edythe Wright. Audio provided by Dorothy Emmerich.
Also listen to a 1937 "The Big Apple" song by Ozzie Nelson and his Orchestra. See a 1929 photo of John J. Fitz Gerald and a 1931 photo of John J. Fitz Gerald.
This site is edited by Barry Popik.