THE LEAD-CABLE BOEER IN CALIFOENIA. 



and insulating the wires, and resheathing, which in a 600-pair cable 

 means considerable skilled labor.* 



Most of the damage is probably done from June to August, when 

 the beetles are emerging in large numbers. The injury is not ap- 

 parent, however, until later, after the rains, when the water soaks 

 through and causes a short circuit. Thus usually all the " troubles " 

 come at once. 



Fig. 3. — Holes bored in the lead sheathing of aerial cables by the California lead-cable 

 borer {ScoMcia declivis) at various localities in California. Natural size. 



OCCUERENCE AND EXTENT OF InJXTEY TO CABLES IN THE UNITED STATES.^ 



The first report of the boring of cable sheath by insects was re- 

 ceived from California in the fall of 1903. It is understood that 

 prior to that time about 100 cases of injury had been experienced 

 over the period of five or six years. The borings occurred adjacent to 

 metal cable hangers, and at first it was thought that the use of mar- 



* In getting the exact location of and repairing " bug " trouble the linemen travel along 

 the cable on a pulley or sliding seat hung on a messenger cable. Of course the wire 

 trouble or leak is approximately located from the office by means of the " Wheatstone 

 bridge." Injury is remedied by " wiping " a knob of lead on a patch or cutting away the 

 lead and putting on a new joint or " sleeve." Dry holes are merely soldered ; that is, 

 where the moisture has not soaked through. (PI. X, Fig. 1.) 



^ By R. F. Hosford, Engineer, American Telephone & Telegraph Co., New York, N. Y. 



