OCCASIONAL NOTES. 143 



OCCASIONAL NOTES. 



lll.—LIMNORIA LIGNORUM, RATHKE— a Wood-borer— 



ITS OCCURRENCE IN SYDNEY HaRBOUR. 



In January 1900, the Trustees received a block of wood from 

 Mr. C. W. Darley, late Chief Engineer to the Harbour and Rivers 

 Department. The wood was taken from the old floating jetty at 

 the foot of Phillip-street, Circular Quay. The timber has the 

 appearance of pine and was originally two and a half inches in 

 thickness, fully a third of which had been eaten away, and the 

 remaining two-thirds were more or less reduced to a condition 

 resembling very small-celled honeycomb. Upon examination the 

 holes in the timber were found to be occupied by a small 

 Isopodous Crustacean, which proved to be the much dreaded 

 "Gribble," Limnoria lignorum, Rathke, of European and 

 American seas. It has probably been introduced from England 

 or from the United States by timber laden vessels, A few months 

 ago another specimen of similarly infested timber was received 

 from Captain J. Edie, Superintendent of Navigation, who stated 

 that it had been taken from a ferry steamer plying in Sydney 

 Harbour. 



From the above remarks it will be seen that this very destruc- 

 tive pest has obtained a foothold, and if allowed to proceed without 

 check may involve the destruction of our jetties, and perhaps 

 render some of the harbour vessels unsafe. It is highly important 

 that the presence of this pest in our waters should be made known 

 to the owners of vessels and wharves, and some action taken to 

 ascertain its distribution, whether it has already spread throughout 

 the harbour or if it is still confined to the place where it was first 

 introduced. Prompt attention to this most destructive pest might 

 arrest its spreading, and it is hoped lead to its ultimate extermin- 

 ation. 



THOMAS WHITELEGGE. 



