Abstract
Most untreated woods are readily attacked by marine boring organisms. Some woods are naturally resistant to attack by some borer species and serve well in some harbors. Present standard wood preservative treatment, creosote or creosote-coal tar impregnation, is satisfactory in arctic and temperate waters but does not give long-term protection in tropical and sub-tropical waters. Although creosote prevents attack by the Teredine or shipworm type of marine borer and by two of the three species of Limnoria present in U. S. harbors, one species, Limnoria tripunctata, which thrives in warm waters, successfully attacks creosoted wood. Because many Navy waterfront structures are located in areas where early failure of creosoted wood occurs, the Bureau of Yards and Docks is investigating the marine borer problem. 3.3.3