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Origins of words always intrigue me....this is the latest tidbit of word history i just picked up and thought i would share.
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.
In case you didnt catch it...think of a acronym used frequently today.
Mitch
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.
In case you didnt catch it...think of a acronym used frequently today.
Mitch
