The wood should not be considered waterlogged in the same sense as
archeological water logger wood. Ship wrecks were made of wood that has gone
through a seasoning process of some kind and then became re-saturated with
water. The logs you mentioned are trees that were being floated to the sawmill
and were so heavy with green wood moisture that they end up sinking. Sort of
like a lot of low body fat guys that are natural sinkers in a swimming pool.
No doubt both types of sinkers are more dense. As a result, the wood, unless
attacked by fresh water bacterial rot, is in an almost fresh cut condition.
The drying process has just been delayed for quite a while. The likelihood of
the wood having fresh cut, dense, old growth qualities makes it a very
desirable commodity. It is too bad that lots of this wood ends up in silly
high end projects. Sort of, kind of.  like cutting up the Hope Diamond so that
more ' cool ' teenagers could have diamond ear studs.

Sincerely

A Sinker

======

Marilyn Harper wrote:

>      Dear knowledgable preservationeers--
>
>      I have recently learned that there is at least one company
>      specializing in the salvaging of logs sunk in lakes and selling the
>      waterlogged lumber.  Since the lakes are in the northern states, I
>      assume the lumber is pine, but don't know that for a fact.  The water
>      is fresh.
>
>      Do any of you know what this lumber would be used for and/or what
>      special (presumably desirable) qualities waterlogged lumber would
>      have?
>
>      Marilyn