the true meaning of ****

[william williams]

Manure ... An interesting fact
... an old history lesson ....

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. As the cargo 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 vessel 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 always thought it was a golf term.

bill the old battler

[warooa]

Good yarn, Bill . . . and worth a laugh but has as much truth to it as the acronym originating from those who where incarcerated (and had it stamped on their tops) For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge.

Marty

[Ron]

'Onya Bill,
you've solved another mystery, always wondered about the origin of the 'high' seas!
Ron

[Rimeriter]

Bill ! Bill !

It all makes sense to me.

But we young and green city blokes are easy prey.

Outback Jack the Tall Tale Teller - sucked me in with his wirenettin' waterbag.

[Neville Briggs]

Obviously you have a Masters degree in Scatology, Bill

[r.magnay]

...I reckon if I wanted to know anything about the subject Bill, you would be the first bloke I would ask!...