Post by steve201 on Jun 16, 2009 19:46:55 GMT -5
Manure.... An interesting fact
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 Transit) 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 had always thought it was a golf term.
;D ;D ;D
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 Transit) 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 had always thought it was a golf term.
;D ;D ;D