Ever wonder where the word SHIT comes from? Well,
here it is: Certain types of manure used to be
transported (as everything was years ago) by ship. 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 discovered what was happening. After that,
the bundles of manure were always stamped with the term
"S.H.I.T" on them, which meant to the sailors to "Ship
High In Transit." In other words, 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. Bet you didn't know the history
of that word. Neither did I. I always thought it was a
golf term.
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Unless otherwise noted, all photos and text is Copyright © Richard G Lowe, Jr.