Figure 20. Phenolic laminated plastic sheet damaged by borers in an 

 area which was in contact with wood. Compare size of 

 damage to l/4-inch-diameter bolt hole. 



The surface of the phenolic laminated plastic sheet where the wood panels 

 were attached was damaged by these borers (Figure 20). The borers had attacked 

 the wood first and had then continued to bore into the plastic. Deep sea fungi were 

 not found in any of the l/2x 2 x 6-inch panels which were exposed about 3 feet above 

 the sediment layer. However, the surfaces of these wood panels were slightly deteri- 

 orated by bacterial action. 



The 2x4x 30-inch untreated fir bait pieces which were fitted over the plastic 

 rods and tubes were deteriorated by borers. The heaviest damage was confined to 

 the bottom side of a bait piece exposed right next to the sediment (Figures 21 & 22). 

 Generally the large bait pieces were in fairly good condition, because the borers 

 had not had time to penetrate deeply. 



On the other hand, the l/2x 1 x 10-inch bait pieces which were fitted over 

 the electrical cable insulations were heavily damaged. The interior of the wood 

 was completely destroyed, leaving a thin outer shell. These wood bait pieces could 

 easily be broken in two or crushed with one's fingers. 



A 3/4x3x 36-inch untreated plywood specimen was exposed between 5 and 8 

 feet above the mud line. As expected, the damage by the borers was very light 

 compared to wood exposed near the mud line (Figure 23). At the lower end of the 

 plywood board were attached clusters of egg sacks of some unknown marine animals 

 (Figure 24). 



22 



