114 THE ECONOMIC MOLLUSCA OF ACADIA. 



coating of wood and bark." The writer's friend, Mr. K.. 

 Miyabe, of Japan, tells him that a countryman of his ha8- 

 invented a method of ijreventing its ravages. It consists in a 

 process of lacquering. Coatings of barnacles, when numerous 

 and near enough together so that their bases touch, form a 

 protection, but one which it would be difficult to produce 

 artificially. Coatings of the common Mussel {Mytihis edulis) 

 have been suggested also; but much the same objection would 

 apply to them, and the coating would be liable to be removed 

 by accident. An annelid preys upon the Teredo, but not to 

 an extent sufficient to assist man. Fresh water is one of their 

 greatest enemies, and foul water another. A method of 

 ridding a ship of them which has been suggested is to take 

 her for some time into fresh water; but our ship owners would 

 not be long in seeing objections to this. There seems to be a 

 possibility, however, that under certain circumstances wharves 

 might be protected by being built where fresh water streams 

 empty, or even, in some cases, where foul water, such as comes 

 from chemical works and the like, could be directed against 

 them. The latter remedy, however, would be too likely to 

 become worse than the trouble. 



As an offset to all the damage done by the Ship-worms- 

 only a single benefit to man has been suggested. They 

 certainly help to remove old wrecks, both floating and sunken, 

 which would be a constant peril to navigation. 



WoKKs OF Reference. 



The Teredo and its Depredations. By Dr. E. H. Von Baum- 

 hauer [translated from Archives of Holland, Vol. L] 

 Popular Science Monthly, Vol. XII I., 1878, pp. 400-410, 

 545-558. Its more important parts are quoted in the 

 following. 



On the Eavages of the Teredo Navalis, and Limnoria Lignorum,^ 

 on Piles and Submerged Timber in Nova Scotia, and the 

 Means being Adopted in other Countries to Prevent their 

 Attacks. By Martin Murphy. Proc. and Trans. Nova 

 Scotian Inst. Nat. Sci., Vol. V., Part IV., 1882, pp. 

 357-376. 



