Shipping Manure
Exciting Historical information you need to
know about shipping Manure: In the 16th and 17th centuries, everything
had to be transported by ship. 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 Transit" 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," 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.

  posted by Unknown @ 5:47 ap.