"Manure" (Believe it nor not?)



In the 16th and 17th centuries, everything had to be transported by ship. It was also before the invention of commercial fertilizer, 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 could see what would (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 the sailors should stow it high enough off the lower decks so that any water that came into the hold would not come in contact with this volatile cargo and start the production of methane.

Thus evolved the colloquialism for manure as we know it today having come down through the centuries.

You probably did not know the true history of this word. Neither did I - I always thought it was a golf term!

Source :- http://www.nauticalinstitute.ca/

Shipping Manure: By Albert Lee