Manure... An interesting fact

[Judy Harder]

Manure... An interesting fact

Manure :  In the 16th and 17th centuries, everything had to be transported by ship and it was also before the invention of commercial fertilizers, so large shipments of manure were quite common.

It was shipped dry, because in dry form it weighed a lot less than when wet, but once water (at sea) hit it, not only did it become heavier, but the process of fermentation began again, of which a by product is methane gas of course. 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 instruction ' Stow 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 ' , (Stow 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. 

[Roma Jean Turner]

Thanks for an interesting post.  I also can relate to it as a golf term. I'm really not very good at it.

[larryJ]

I am constantly amazed at what one can learn from other members of this forum.  I am also amazed at the very depth of the knowledge that one can grasp from these important and life changing facts and ideas.  Trivial knowledge, not withstanding, is a key part of our daily lives.

Thank you, Judy, for providing me with new knowledge to help me get through my day.

(I know, I know, I am full of----)



Larryj

[Judy Harder]

You made me giggle. You are so welcome. I love smiling. And getting a LOL is a plus.

[Wilma]

Larry, what do you mean by trivial facts.  Everybody needs to facts about sh----, I mean manure.  So many of them are so full of it.

[Judy Harder]

Wonder if that is where all the "HOT-AIR" is coming from. LOL
Seems the forum is just full of ________ I. T.!