Manure...A True Story
Manure: 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 had always thought it was a golf term .
