History Lesson from IC - " Shipp High in Transit"
Subject: Ship High In Transit:
Ok guys and gals here is a little trivia from ol' IC that just might win that next jeoporady question for ya.
It may be true may not be .........who knows....................
Ship High In Transit:
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 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," which has come down through the centuries
and is in use to this very day.
