Did you know this about Manure?

[Dot]

An
interesting fact about Manure: In the 16th and 17th centuries,
everything for export had to be transported by ship.
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
stuff was stored below decks in bundles - you can imagine 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 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 ' , (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 had always
thought it was a golf term.

[BernieQ2]

Aww poo Dot. I didn't know neva.
Bernie

[jon_d]

So..... we've been wrong ever since.

When you stow high, shit doesn't happen.

[mottleemob]

That sounds like a load of shit to me
cheers Phil

[Chuck]

So, I assume that when those ships sailed in very cod climates the cargo froze solid... hence the terminology:

Shit a brick!!

Boom Boom!!

[Dot]

What is "Cod" climates? Is that when the men wore "Cod pieces" ? they had to be protected so they didn't snap off in the cod climates

[Greynomad]

Sounds fishy to me...

[supersparky]

Dot, Stop picking on Chuck or I will get the sub-editor onto you again. And can I have permission to steal this off you and use it at work? Which, as you know is where a lot of fertiliser comes from!

[Dot]

OK I shall leave Chuckles alone for a few days & Yes you may take the fert story to work

[Chuck]

What is "Cod" climates? Is that when the men wore "Cod pieces" ? they had to be protected so they didn't snap off in the cod climates

Yeah well, I was 'avin an 'ell of a day so decided to leave it out.