Manure on the seas
> > >
> > > In the 16th and 17th centuries, everything had to be transported by
ship
> > > and it was also before commercial fertilizer's invention, so large
> > > shipments of manure were common.
> > >
> > > It was shipped dry, because in dry form it weighed a lot less than
when
> > > wet, but once water (at sea)hit it, it not only became heavier, but
the
> > > process of fermentation began again, of which a by-product is methane
> > > gas. As the stuff was stored below decks in bundles you can see what
> > > could (and did) happen. Methane began to build up below decks and the
> > > first time someone came below at night with a lantern, BOOOOM!
> > >
> > > Several ships were destroyed in this manner before it was determined
> > > just what was happening. After that, the bundles of manure were always
> > > stamped with the term "Ship High In Transport" on them which meant for
> > > the sailors to stow it high enough off the lower decks so that any
water
> > > that came into the hold would not touch this volatile cargo and start
> > > the production of methane.
> > >
> > > Thus evolved the term "S.H.I.T ", (Ship High In Transport) which has
> > > come down through the centuries and is in use to this very day.
> > >
> > > You probably did not know the true history of this word.
> > >
> > > Neither did I. I always thought it was a golf term.
> > >
> > > In the 16th and 17th centuries, everything had to be transported by
ship
> > > and it was also before commercial fertilizer's invention, so large
> > > shipments of manure were common.
> > >
> > > It was shipped dry, because in dry form it weighed a lot less than
when
> > > wet, but once water (at sea)hit it, it not only became heavier, but
the
> > > process of fermentation began again, of which a by-product is methane
> > > gas. As the stuff was stored below decks in bundles you can see what
> > > could (and did) happen. Methane began to build up below decks and the
> > > first time someone came below at night with a lantern, BOOOOM!
> > >
> > > Several ships were destroyed in this manner before it was determined
> > > just what was happening. After that, the bundles of manure were always
> > > stamped with the term "Ship High In Transport" on them which meant for
> > > the sailors to stow it high enough off the lower decks so that any
water
> > > that came into the hold would not touch this volatile cargo and start
> > > the production of methane.
> > >
> > > Thus evolved the term "S.H.I.T ", (Ship High In Transport) which has
> > > come down through the centuries and is in use to this very day.
> > >
> > > You probably did not know the true history of this word.
> > >
> > > Neither did I. I always thought it was a golf term.
Now I know.
