Hands of Stone
New Member
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
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 " , (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.
hos
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
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 " , (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.
hos
