?1888.] Account of the Attacks of the Teredo Navalis, SfC. 317 



i((P|p^P 



It requires but little technical knowledge to see that the " cleats " 

 and " walings" were rendered entirely useless — in fact so useless 

 that at certain points the force of the sea was sufficient to disperse 

 the piles. 



Since my first inspection, the result of which I have just 

 endeavoured to describe, I have made numerous examinations of 

 these works, and have watched with interest and dismay the 

 advances made by these mollusca, and am now only too fully con- 

 vinced that before very long the question of replacing the timber- 

 work will have to be faced, and when I state that it originally 

 cost — for the two Jetties — some twenty-five thousand pounds, the 

 seriousness of my subject may perhaps be realized. 



In writing this paper I have had a two-fold object in view, firstly, 

 a desire to let those engaged on similar works as myself know of my 

 e\:perience with timbers that have heretofore enjoyed a reputation 

 which they certainly do not appear to me to deserve. And, secondly, 

 in the hope that some of those members of this Society who have a 

 special knowledge of marine insect life, and time at their disposal, 

 may direct their attention to the subject with a view of discovering 

 some means of guarding against the onslaughts of these most destruc- 

 tive pests. For it appears to me that the age that can boast of the 

 labours of Pasteur on the silkworm, should not allow the Teredo 

 Chelura and Limnoria to hold the field and work destruction in the 

 peace and security they now enjoy. 



I am aware that attempts have been made in this direction from 

 time to time, and with varying success, but so far as I know nothing 

 has yet been discovered that can be handed to the engineer and ship- 

 builder, with the instructions " Use this, and your timber is safe Irom 

 marine life attacks," and until that be done there is something original 

 Jor science still to accomplish. 



\R. H. Hammersley-Heenan, 



,n2 



