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North Ga

Excting historical information you need to know about shipping Manure:

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.

You probably did not know the true history of this word.

Neither did I.

6/15/2003 6:16:53 PM

New Brunswick

Great story Pappy. I can't wait to pass this on. *grin*

6/15/2003 6:45:50 PM

No Place Special

AWESOME...thanks for sharing

6/15/2003 11:15:12 PM

Caceres, mid west of Spain

Nice to know Pappy that etimology, it is much like Fornicating Under the Consense of the King, or Cero Killed.

6/16/2003 12:57:40 AM

Commack, NY

Awesome!!

6/16/2003 9:38:21 AM

Billerica,Massachusetts

P.U. That story stinks!!

6/16/2003 10:49:38 AM

Mineral Virginia

one step further though is how do these terms become explicative?

6/16/2003 10:51:03 AM

wilmington,ma.

Hot dogs and beans have the same effect.

6/17/2003 3:41:18 PM

Cologne / Germany

Where are the ship wrecks located? Should be really good places to get some well aged manure...;-)

6/18/2003 3:38:59 AM

Montoursville, PA

OLD SHIP LORE! The square holding devise, by the canons, placed, on the floor, were brass. This devise held the first layer of canon balls onto which the stack was built. It was called a monkey. When the weather got cold the brass holders shrunk and the balls rolled or fell off. Therefore: "It really was cold enough, to freeze the balls, off a brass monkey".

6/18/2003 8:46:30 AM