The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1906-10-17
AFTER THE TEREDO
Expert Searching for Method
to Prevent Damage.
WOULD BE OF IMMENSE VALUE
TO OWNERS OF WHARVES OR
FLOATING PROPERTY AS WELL
AS IN CONSERVING FORESTS.
FORESTRY EXPERT TALKS OF
MISSION.

A study of the best means for the
preservation of timber in salt water IS
now being made by c. Howell Smith.
an expert connected with the forest
service of the United States depart
men of agriculture, who. is now In the
city, and il some improved means can
be found whereby destructive agencies
can be destroyed without great ex-
pense, it will be of great benefit to
Pensacolians, especially the owners or
wharves, vessels, etc. Mr.. Smith has
been in the city for several days max
ing an investigation of local condi-
lions, gathering data as to the various
agencies which have proved most de-
structive to timber in salt water and
thoroughly acquainting himself with
conditions,
The forestry expert is an interest.
ing conversationalist, especially when
speaking on his favorite subject, and
to Journal representative last night
gave some interesting information as
to what is being done by the forestry
service
Owing to the constantly decreasing
supply of timber and consequent rapid
rise in prices" said Mr. Smith, ANY
effort, looking to the conservation of
our forests or forest products, is OF
great value to the country at large.
With this idea in mind the forest SER
vice has lately taken up, among other
projects. an investigation Of the agen-
cies destructive to wood under water,
and methods of preservation against
their work. With one rather unimpor-
tant exception, nothing has been found
attacking timber constantly immersed
in fresh water. so the problem be-
comes one of salt water conditions en-
tirely.
"The known destroyers of timber
exposed in salt water are two bivalve
mOllusks, teredo and xqlotra, common
ly known as ship-worms; and limnoria
and chelura, crustaceans.
"Teredo and xylotra differ but
slightly In form, habits and probably
in range, hence are oren confused,
xylotras usually being called teredos.
They consist of a long semi-transpar-
ent worm-like body, terminating at the
one end, In a muscular foot enclosed
by two delicately sculptured valves or
shells, and at the other in two tubes,
through one of which It draws its food
from the surrounding water and
through the other elects waste par
ticles of wood. They vary in length
from one-half inch to six feet, and in
width from one sixteenth to FIVE
eighths inches. Their boring is prob
ably done by attaching the muscular
foot to the wood and rotating the
valves about 1t, although this has not
as yet been fully determined The
young mollusk attaches itself to a pile
of timber and rapidly bores in, max
ing hole that is almost microscopic,
but which soon expands, always be-
ing the exact size of the body. AS the :
tubes must always remain exposed to
the water, in order to penetrate deep
er, it has to grow longer. It never
crosses a neighboring burrOw, nor q
crack of any kind. Where the attack
is bad, a pile will be destroyed in from
six months to one year. and in less in
tested waters, will last perhaps five
years. AS far as known, their range
extends from Alaska, along the Pacific
coast southwark, the Gulf of Mexico,
New Brunswick, their work being
worst in the warmer waters.
"Limnoria is a small animal, the
size of a grain of rice, protected by
several plates of horny material. IL
has several pairs OF walking and SWIM
ming legs and hard. strong mandibles
for boring. Countless numbers bora
into the timber side by side for
depth of about one-half inch. The me-
chanical action of the water soon
breaks down the partitions between
the burrows and then a fresh attack
is made, thus cutting through the tim
her entirely in a few years. Limnoria
feeds upon the wood particles which
it chisels Off It's range has never been
carefully worked out, probably being
the same as teredo
"Chelura resembles limnOra IN every
respect except that 1t Is slightly larger.
So far 1t has been identified only on
the Atlantic coast.
Several methods have been devised
for the protection Of timber against
these agents, such as sheathing with
copper, concrete. etc; wrapping with
burlap soaked in various mixtures;
paints and preparations applied ex- /.
ternally with a brush. and impregna- ?
ton with dissolved salts or heavy oils.
Several Of these have proved to be alb 1,
solute failures, and others are OF
doubtful value
TT is the intention of the Forest