History of "Shit"

Exciting Historical information you need to know about shipping
Manure:
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) 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," 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.