The mountain Democrat., 1863-02-07
SPONGEs.

Sponges belong to the lowest class Of
animals a creature which may be said
to form the first link in the great chain Of
copic protozoon is by no means unfre-
quently to be met within stagnant waters
and vegetable infusiOns. 1t is . minute
semi.fuid mass, presenting scarcely any
evidence Of distinct organization, even OF
the simplest kind When the creature,
in the course of its progress, meets with
a particle capable Of affording it nutri-
ment, its gelatinous body spreads itself
over and around the precious morSel so
as to envelOp it completely. The sNS'
stance thus taken into this extemporlzed
stomach undergoes q sort Of digestion,
the nutr;tivc material being extracted,
and the indigeStible part being. as it were,
squeezed out Of the body. OF the mode
Of its reproduction nothing yet is known,
save that it undergoes multiplication BY
self.diviSion, and that portions separated
from the mass, either by cutting or tear
ing, can develope themselves into inde-
pendent beings. This living speck Of
jelley, which can get along without legs,
and which can convert any portion Of its
substance into a stomach, may be regard
ed as the type of the Protozoa.
Ia the living sponge the skeleton, usu-
ally composed Of a fibrouS network,
Strengthened by Spicules OF mineral mat
ter, is clothed with a soft flesh. Most
sponges are strengthened by calcareous
or siliceous Spicules, and the variety of
forms presented by these bodies is almost
endless. In the ordinary sponge, spongia
entirely destitute Of spicuieS; but in the
curious and beautiful sponge of Barba.
does the entire network Of ibres is COM
posed Of sileX, and is so transparent that
il looks as if composed of spun glass.
With the exception Of those that be-
long to the genus Spongilla, all known
sponges are marine, but they differ very
much in habit Of growth some are only
found at considerable depths. others live
near the surface, and many attach them
selves to rocks aud shells between the
tide marks. The average depth at which
the best Turkey sponges are found is
thirty fathomS those of an inferior quail
ity are found at lesser depths.
All the finer descriptions Of sponges
are obtained from Islands on the Medi.
terrancan, and the coaser descriptions
from the Bahama banks and the coast Of
Florida. About one thousand bales, each
weighing 800 lbs, are shipped annually
from Nassau, New Providence. Sponge
fishing is also carried on at Key West, in
Florida, where about 100000 lbs. are
gathered annually. Our great source of
sponges, however, is the Bahamas.
The Andros Islands and the Gays are
the great sponging districts. The sponge
is usually found in grassy and rocky
patches near the shores Of this group.
Crawls for cleaning these may be seen
constructed with stakes about two inches
thick, driven into the mud, and forming
square Of twelve feet, sufficiently high
to prevent the sponge washing out In
these the sponge is soaked and washed
frequently, after having been buried in
sand about week or ten days, when it
loses the black animal matter, which has
an offensive smell. When first gathered
the pieces are wrenched from the rocks
with strong two-pronEed fork fixed to
a long pole. The sponges are of four
kiuds-yellow, glove, velvet and mop.
The first is the most valuable kind the
second is the toughest, and much used in
stables for its Softness.
In 1859, 207, ,450 pounds of Bahama
sponges were imported into the United
States. At Nassau. New Providence, it
may be seen in vast quantities on clear
days spread on the roofs Of houses, and
hung upon fences to dry. All the spon-
gcs which are hawkcd around our streets
for sale, either come from Key West or
Nassau. American.