Something you might not know
Posted: Wed Jun 01, 2005 10:02 am
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 buil! d 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.
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 buil! d 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.
Lots of time on yer hands buddy?????
I find that kind of stuff insteresting, like when I found out GOLF was a word for a gents-only club meaning Gentlemen Only, Ladies Forbidden.
