Interesting Fact

In the 16th and 17th centuries, everything had to be transported by
ship. 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) got
to it, it not only became heavier, but the process of fermentation
began again, of which the by-product is methane gas.

As the manure was stored below decks in bundles you can understand
what could (and did) happen. Methane gas began to build up below
decks and the first time someone came below at night with a lantern,
BOOOOOOM! Several ships were destroyed in this manner before it was
determined just why this was happening. After that, bundles of manure
were always stamped with the term "Ship High In Transit" which meant
sailors were to stow it high enough off the lower decks so that any
water leaking into the hold would not touch this volatile cargo,
starting the production of methane.

Thus evolved the term "S.H.I.T," which has come down through the
centuries and is in use to this very day.

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