  Bulk samples of carbon multilayer nanotubes with the structure of nested
cones (fishbone structure) suitable for transport measurements, were prepared
by compressing under high pressure (~25 kbar) a nanotube precursor synthesized
through thermal decomposition of polyethylene catalyzed by nickel. The
structure of the initial nanotube material was studied using high-resolution
transmission electron microscopy. In the low-temperature range (4.2 - 100 K)
the electric resistance of the samples changes according to the law ln \rho ~
(T_0/T)^{1/3}, where T_0 ~ 7 K. The measured magnetoresistance is quadratic in
the magnetic field and linear in the reciprocal temperature. The measurements
have been interpreted in terms of two-dimensional variable-range hopping
conductivity. It is suggested that the space between the inside and outside
walls of nanotubes acts as a two-dimensional conducting medium. Estimates
suggest a high value of the density of electron states at the Fermi level of
about 5 10^{21} eV^{-1} cm^{-3}.
