Peng Jui-chin holds that the Uncle Haiyung created by Liao Hung-chi is an old fisherman fully familiar with maritime operations, and the epitome of Taiwanese fishermen. He is somewhat different from the main character in The Old Man and the Sea, who is portrayed as a hero.
彭瑞金認為，廖鴻基創造的海湧伯，是一位對海上作業充分瞭解的老漁夫，亦是台灣漁人的共像，不同於《老人與海》中的桑蒂歌雅被突顯成英雄般的勇者。