The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-11-04
Florida SpOnge Fishing.

~ nov IN iavof. 40
(. Florida Sponge Fishing. ~
the returns oftlc Florida spongo-hsh
cries amount to from one hundred to one
hundred and fifty thousand pounds
annually, furnishes employment to many
men and boats. The sponge IA gathered
by means OF a long pole, with two aud
sometimes three hooks upon the end.
This Is thrust down into the sponge,
which can be destinctly seen in tho clear
at tile depth Of thirty feet. As the
fisherman must see the sponge, he can
successfully work, only In clear and
smooth water. They obyiatc the rough,
ness by throwing upon the surface oil
made from the sharks that abound IN
these waters, Or by a contrivance made
Of pane OF glass SGT into u box or
bucket this they place on the surface
and use as a spy glass. The large sclioon.
ers come to anchor and send out small
boats to iisll, but when the wind q not too
strong, tho smaller crafts sail around,
with o man on the fore-part on the look
out for the sponge; they also have their
small boats. The sponge, after itisgath-
cred, Is allowed TO reinnin in tho sun for
two or three days to die. The gelatinous
matter that Is in them decays, and they
are very offensive at this stage. They
are then placed in pens (lnale by driving
poles into the wateO near the shore, to
wash there they remain a week, and
are then ready to DO bleached in the sun,
cut into shape, and bAled for the market.
There are five kinds gathered In these
waters. The most valuable is called the
sheepis.wool, for which tho fishermen
set one dollar apound when cleaned and
dry. Then there are tie boat and yellow
sponges. OF the former not much is
found. For these they get twenty-five
cents o pound. Besides these there Is
the glove sponge, which ranks about the
same as the common grass'sponge, whiclf
only brings them ten cents pound.
Heard and Home. ss.A t-'
DISASTROUS HARVEST IN SCOTLAND
The harvest OF Scotland IL, according to
the Scotsman, tho most disastrous that
has been known since the year 1916, when
what were known as the, Meal Riots took
lpiace. The heavy anu Continued fall Of
rain during the second week Of September
drencled the sheaves and cut grain
Through and through, which Is in many
cases IN irreparablc mischief. A good
many samples of oats and wheat, as well
| as Of barley have been shown in Elin
burgh Corn Exchange during tho first
three weeks; but, when compared with
grain Of the 1871 crop, they exhibit an
astonishing and deplorable deterioration,
but even that does not show tho full dam.
age done to the crop, because all the
grains that had seriously sprouted had
I.been taken out Of the samples by means
Of screens and riddles. The worst fears
regarding the potato crop have been real.
lied 4 and an illustration Of the extent Of
the failure ofthe crop Is given. In ordin.
ary years a stout man with three assist.
ants (two women aud hoyl, could easily
raise and weigh ready for market eight
bolls or thirty-two cwt., potatoes every
dsy. For the last fortnight it has taken
u very active man and three assistants to
one and a.halt bollA, or six cwt., ofsound,
and three bolls, or twelve cwt. Of diseased
potatoes per day, All this is bad news
for tho winter.
i DGrISG PUMPKINS. We hdtO tried all
modes Of drying, but no plan Is equal. we
think, to this; Take the ripe pumpkins,
pare, cut into small pieces, stew soft,
mash and strain through cullenler, as Il
for mGking pies. Spread this pulp on
plates In layers not quite an inch thick ;
dryit down in the stove oven, keep at SO
4 low temperature as not to scorch 1t.
In about day It will become dry and
crisp. The sheets thus made can be
stored away ina dry place, and they are
always ready for use for pies or sauce.
Soak the pieces over night In little
milk, and they willretdrn to nice pulp,
as delicious as the fresh pumpkin-we
think much more so. The quick drying
after cooking prevents any portion frsm
slightly sourihg, asit Is always the case
when the uncooked pieces are dried the
flavor Is much better preserved, and after
cooking Is saved. This plan Is quite as
little trouble as tic old mode, to say
nothing Of the superiority in tho quality
Of the material obtained. Try II and you
viii not return to tho old method, We are
sure, and you will also become o great
lover ofpunpkln pie all tho year round'
THE TRAxsir OF vESus.-For the pur.
posO Of doing Justice to the transit Of
Venus, which Is to take place in December,
1874, England Is preparing eight hello
photographic npparatuses on the model
ofthat at Kew. Russia las tlireO Of the
same model, and has ordered n fourth
Germany also will have four; Portugal
one, Those OF United States will be
Of different make, and those used by
the French will be constructed according