A large number of pink sea anemones, up to 3 inches in diameter at the base, 

 were found securely attached over the entire 6,000-foot length of polyethylene- 

 jacketed 1/2-inch-diameter wire rope (Figures B-3 and B-4). The jacketed wire rope 

 was attached to the STU frame and stretched across the ocean floor to serve as an 

 alternate method of retrieving the STU by means of grappling. 



Marine Growth on Test Materials 



As soon as the recovered STU was placed on the deck of the ship (Figures B-5 

 and B-6), the test panels were examined for attachment organisms and these were 

 photographed. The fouling animals were then carefully lifted from the test specimens 

 and preserved in a 5-percent glycerol-alcohol solution for further analysis in the 

 laboratory. 



The test specimens at the bottom of the STU had been buried in sediment as 

 planned as evidenced by traces of mud found at two corners of the frame. 



There were several hundred amphipods (Figure B-7) about 3/8 inch long swarming 

 over the materials on the bio-rack. It is possible that several thousand other amphipods 

 may have been washed off during recovery of the STU. In addition to the amphipods, 

 about two dozen small crabs were also found crawling over the materials on the bio- 

 rack (Figure B-8). One was found wedged in between metal test specimens. 



There were no signs of typical attachment organisms such as bryozoa, barnacles, 

 or tube worms on any of the metal test specimens. Portions of hydroid colony (branches) 

 were caught on the surface of most of the metal specimens, and there was a cluster of 

 grapelike yellow growth (Figure B-9) securely attached to the surface of a metal panel. 



A heavy bacterial slime growth covered the entire surface of a 3-foot-long 

 flexible black vinyl tube (NCEL No. 374). This tubing may contain some chemical 

 compound preferred by microorganisms as a source of food; there was only light slimy 

 bacterial growth on the other plastic materials. The burlap wrapping on all the plastic 

 rods and tubes was covered with bacterial slime; the fibers were deteriorated by 

 bacterial action and could be easily torn apart by hand. A few marine borers were 

 found burrowing into the jute fibers. 



Electrical Tape Specimens 



All of the plastic electrical tape which was wrapped around the plastic rods 

 and tubes was attacked by marine borers except the tape over vinyl tube No. 374. 

 Most were found boring along the edge of the overlap (Figure B-10 and B-1 1), and 

 a few were found boring into the tape away from the edge. This indicates that the 

 borers preferred to settle and start boring in a protected area along the edge of the 

 tape where there was very little disturbance from water currents. 



The borers did not penetrate the plastic tape and into the solid plastic materials 

 underneath. The deepest borer holes showed that some had penetrated approximately 

 three quarters of the way through the 0.010-inch-thick electrical tape. 



10 



