Thanks Ash I think that the 9.3% (31 mil) shortman talking about...

Thanks Ash

I think that the 9.3%  (31 mil) shortman talking about is the aggregate number shorts on the stock. I don't think that it indicates at any time the number of open short positions (shares sold but not yet brought back). Stock can be borrowed , then sold short and repurchased at a lower price (providing profit) its "covered". If this happens on the same day or in a couple of days it will contribute to the shortmans aggregate but the net open (uncovered)  short positions can be zero.

http://www.investopedia.com/university/shortselling/shortselling1.asp

I was interested in the gross shorts on a daily basis in Shortmans table especially the five days covering feb8 - feb12.  The shorted volumes were huge 2.8 million for the five days. I suspect that the a fair number of these remained uncovered, but I have no proof except for the frenzied buying that occurred today.

Thanks again