by Igor Zidane » Thu Feb 10, 2011 5:21 pm
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 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.
UP THE PURPS !!!

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