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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.
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.
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