Historical Fact? or Historical Humor? Hmmm

[Nefertiti Nazguul]

Manure

In the 16th and 17th centuries, everything had to be transported by ship
and 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 ", (Ship High In Transport) 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 thought it was a Golf Term

[Itek]

*sigh*

*groan*

Highly amusing tale. But utterly false.

When you get stuff like this try www.snopes.com first.

Here is the debunking page on this one.

Couple of things.

1) Old style fertilizer was too common to ship. (Ocean going vessel passage = pricy. How much do you figure fertilizer was worth?)

2) If the hold isn't WATER tight how do you figure it's GAS tight? (Methane is MUCH lighter than air.) Check it out here to be sure.

3) You own a shiping company. You have a ship explode. Presume that somehow you deduce that shipping fertilizer caused your EXPENSIVE ship to explode. (There are NO insurance companies, other than you and your competitors. See here for information on the history of Lloyds of London.) What would YOU have to be paid to ship such a dangerous cargo again? (see item 1)

Don't get me wrong. I thought it was funny. Very amusing. But there's no question it's an urban legend.

[Kcalehc]

2) If the hold isn't WATER tight how do you figure it's GAS tight? (Methane is MUCH lighter than air.) Check it out here to be sure.

Yeah ok, so the story is likely false. But this point isn't necessarily true at all. The hole would have to be below the water line to let the water in. the gas would attempt to escape upwards, and would likely not have the pressure to force the water out. So it could be air tight (at the top) and not water tight (at the bottom) and allow this to happen. Also Methane is lighter than air, so would rise above the air, and in cargo holds of the time entrance was through the top of the hold.

But I doubt enough buildup would occur anyway personally.

I think the economic point is the most valid. Manure just ain't worth s**t (well it is but you know what I mean).