Arthur Webster   Just plain honesty
I thank my good friend Elbert Willard for this story.

True or not? Do I care?

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!
            
Jun 1st 2008 11:22