THE GRIBBLE 207 



brought to light in the form of a minute marine 

 organism, known as the gribble, which of late years 

 has wrought extraordinary mischief to the insulat- 

 ing covers of the conducting wires in submarine 

 cables. For many years after the inauguration of 

 submarine telegraphy no damage was done to the 

 insulating material, which was simply sheathed in 

 strong iron wire. The gribble had not discovered 

 the excellence of guttapercha as food. Now, how- 

 ever, gribbles are better educated. Gribbles creep 

 between the protecting wires and devour hundreds 

 of miles of guttapercha, leaving the copper con- 

 ductors unprotected, and, of course, destroying the 

 communication. It has become necessary to wrap the 

 cables throughout their length with brass tape, which 

 at present is found effective in defeating the attacks 

 of the most insidious gribble. But the curious 

 question remains What did gribbles feed on before 

 the sea bottom was spread with guttapercha ? to 

 which it is as difficult to supply an answer as to the 

 old one What do midges bite when there are no 

 full-blooded men and sweet young ladies on the 

 moors 1 



