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The Story of 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.
Manure was shipped dry because in dry form it weighed a lot less than when wet, but once at sea, water hit it and it not only became
heavier but the process of fermentation began again, and as you all know, a by-product of fermentation is methane gas. Since the
manure was stored below decks in bundles, methane began to build up and the first time someone came
below at night with a lantern, BOOM!
Many 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 still in use to this very day.
You probably didn't know the true history of this word. Neither did I. I always thought it was a golf term.
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