Sell stops can be orders to close out a long position, or they can be to initiate a short position.

FORBES: FOCUS: Gold Rebounds Above $1,500 In Late Trade

The number of shares short is then compared to the average daily volume, in order to calculate the total number of trading days it would take to close out all of the open short positions if every share traded represented a short position being closed.

FORBES: Connect

The number of shares short is then compared to the average daily volume, in order to calculate the total number of trading days (at the average volume) it would take to close out all of the open short positions if every share traded represented a short position being closed.

FORBES: Connect