When the aluminum buoy which had been exposed about 300 feet below the 

 surface was examined, only a trace of hydroid growth was found (Figure 6). A 

 moderate amount of hydroid growth was found on the polypropylene riser line at 

 various intervals from the surface to 1,500 feet below the surface. Some of the 

 individual hydroid growths were up to 5 Inches long. The riser line was used to 

 connect the aluminum buoys to the concrete sinker at the sea floor. Below 1,500 feet, 

 the amount of hydroid growth began to diminish. Considerable hydroid growth was 

 noted on a metal thimble, exposed about 800 feet below the surface (Figure 7). 

 There was very light hydroid growth on the bottom section of an aluminum pinger 

 casing which was exposed about 600 feet below the surface (Figure 8). 



Attached to one side of the concrete sinker, which was resting on the sea 

 floor 5,600 feet beneath the surface of the sea, was a 6-inch-long round worm. It 

 had laid numerous pink eggs on the surface of the concrete (Figure 9). 



Reference 5 gives a detailed account of the design, placement, and retrieval 

 of the STU's located at the deep ocean test sites. 



Figure 6. Aluminum buoy which was exposed at about 300 feet below the surface. 



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