It happens. . . .

[jazzbo]

I don't know how true this is,,,

BUTT,,,

I think it's a neat story ! !

__________________

Here's an interesting piece of information. You should know this stuff.

You may be asked to share your expertise sometime. Never can tell...

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....

KA 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 a certain term. Take the first letter of each word of,

"Ship High In Transport and you have that word.

You probably didn't know the true history of this word, huh? Well,

neither did I.....

[couw]

the moment I read it, I knew that story smells!

[jazzbo]

I think the originator of this needs to work on it some more so that it smells even before reading!