Got Guano? (useless knowledge of the day)

[underpants]

So I was looking up US Code Title 18 (covers torture definitions and punishments) and I found this in section 7 (4)-see link below-concerning the jurisdiction that is covered by this part of US law.

(4) Any island, rock, or key containing deposits of guano, which may, at the discretion of the President, be considered as appertaining to the United States.

What in the world is that all about?

Guano Islands Act
of 1856

The Guano Islands Act was federal legislation passed by the U.S. Congress on August 18, 1856 enabling citizens of the U.S. to take possession of islands containing guano deposits. The islands could be located anywhere, so long as they were not occupied and not within the jurisdiction of other governments. It also empowered the President of the United States to use the military to protect such interests.

Whenever any citizen of the United States discovers a deposit of guano on any island, rock, or key, not within the lawful jurisdiction of any other Government, and not occupied by the citizens of any other Government, and takes peaceable possession thereof, and occupies the same, such island, rock, or key may, at the discretion of the President, be considered as appertaining to the United States. (first section of Guano Islands Act)

The Guano Islands Act is currently embodied in federal statutes as U.S. Code, Title 48, Chapter 8, Sections 1411-1419.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guano_Islands_Act

Apparently we took possession of Navassa Island (at least) using the Guano Islands Act

Navassa Island is a small, uninhabited island in the Caribbean Sea. It is an unincorporated territory of the United States administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. However, Bill Warren has advanced a claim against the island (using the Guano Islands Act), and it is also claimed by Haiti.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Navassa_Island

Title 18 section 7 (4)
http://assembler.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode18/usc_sec_18_00000007----000-.html

[MercutioATC]

1. That must be the most ridiculous thing I've ever seen.

We get to claim territory because it has shit on it?

[underpants]

4. Yeah but it's good sh*t

:bounce:

[ashmanonar]

2. it's an old law

similar to the policy of today regarding regions with high concentrations of oil and uranium.

guano is a major component of gunpowder! and back then, gunpowder was the primary resource of war.

so that's why there's a law regarding it.

[underpants]

3. Okay *I* learned something

I dodn't know it was a component of gunpowder (at one point) I thought it was just for the fertilizer part.

Well well well thank you.

[ashmanonar]

9. no problem!

i love showing off my geeky skillz.

[MercutioATC]

5. Me too.

Thanks for the explanation.

[rasputin1952]

6. Puts a whole new meaning to, "shooting the shit"...

:D

[underpants]

7. Damn man you got shot.....and you STINK

:bounce:

[ashmanonar]

8. lol.

well, now shells are fired using ammonia...which, if i'm not mistaken, is a byproduct of digestion?

you're not far off!