, 1874-08-01

Soma interesting information, aays tho Pan
MaN GaaetIe, Respecting clio Syrian sponge-tsh~
erice ia given by Vice-U0nsul Jago (Doyrout) III
hs commercial report Tor l87S, 3yt issuoa: ~ 'fhe
Syria ID fro1n .c20, ,000 to I25 300. Tho proano-
tion IL, howe over, falling OF through excessive
fishing, aud tue consequent exhaustion OF tho
1lshory-grollnds. About 250 to 500 boats aro at
OF Syria, manned by about 800 men. The CEN
tres Of production arc Tripo1i, Rua1, 1iattaKia,
md Bafroun on tito coast OF Mount Lebanon.
Tho Dcst qualities nro found In the nefghborlood
Of Tripoli and Datroun; but the noats visit nil
parts OF tho coast, from Mount Oarmol in tho
Aouth to Alo1anltntsa in tho north. The ma
1ority OF tho boats used arc ordinary fishing
boats, throo parts dockcd oyer. and carrying one
11ast with all Ordinary lEg-Ha1l Thoy nro from
IL feet to 30 foot in length, and are manned by
is specially engaged for tho purpose for hauling.
while tho rest divers. lii some cases the
own tl4oir own boats but gonoral,y they are hired
for tho 8eaeon, which extends from Juno to tho
m1tMoratlon consists in an equal Hnaro of tho
pr1ll,cs Of the fishing. Tho profits Of a good
diver roach as high as E4) ssaso1l. Diving iB
prnc1lccd from very carly age up to ~ years,
beyond which few ato abto to conttnue tho pstr-
Suit. 1t docs not apponr, howeror, that the
practice has any tendency to shorten life,
although as tho diver approaches 40 lie II losu
able to compete with hlB younger and lnora viz"
oroun brother. li,o time during which Syrian
diyor can remain undor wator depends, Of
iB roo1soned good work, hut there are rare in.
stances Of men who are sbio TO Btay bolow eighty
seconds: Tho men on the coast, however. make
extraordinary statomcntB aB to lilo lsngth Of
time their best hands aro able to remnin 9nilor
wator. and grayo>y Assert that eight and ton
minutes arc not Representatives,. Tho mannor Of
diving Ia al foiiows: Tho diyer,--naked Of
oourss,--with IN open net around his waist for
Tho receptacle Of his prizes seizea with both
hands ali ob!ong white stone, to which ia attach
at tho bottom tho atona' il deposited Mt hiB feet
nnl, kosping hold Of the rope with one hand,
tho DIVER grnhpp and tpars OIL the HponEes with
in reach, which he deposits III his not 1lo then,
to thosa above, mud il ara,fa up. No knife,
spear, Of instrument Of any kind Ia uaud. The
Syrian diver, nnlko his Crock competitor, never
t'aes tho tllsing-drons, having an nnt,pathy to 1t
on tho score Of ita alleged .tcnderloy to prodnce
raraiysin Of the lin'bs. Two Of threo fatal acci.
ttcnts annually ooosr, mainly among ths tl1iliful
and daring. The diver will qnit his hold Of tile
rope and dwant1or Bomo distance to secure = prize,
arlaon returning to regain tue ropo will miss the
spot mud be unable to lind it. llo then attempts
to riso nnaspisteat and, being ignorant Of tbs
exact direction. often Btrikes ont diagonnily,
and In drowned before ho can roach tho
nnr{aoc.. Othor accidents. again happen
from Jagged or pointed rocku, which,
HGbluV H3suttlIHeb WOuuuluE LUZ u4f6Ey 0IIcu
eusangle his rope, and thus III great depths ex-
pose him to tho rinh Of drowning. Tho depth
to which the diver aoscends sarles from fire to
thirty "brasses," each eguasto an ordinary mans
height. below the oxtrelne limit 1nontione1 no
good Bponges aro found. In former yunrs tho
byran coast was much froqncnted By Grcek
aiyo1H from tho fsinnlu Of tho Archipelago.
Their nnn,bor il now restricted to fvo or Btx
boats nnnualIy, tho skill OF thu 8yrnn, combined
With his superior knowledge Of tho iiAhing-
grounds, enabling him to compete aacceasfni&y
yary much In quality and size. sponEea
tno white bei~si,apel sponge, known AZ
tho " toilet-sponge; "a. Tho 'argo roadish yari-
oty known aa :. spongo DO Yeniue," Or. g bath
SPONGE" o. The conrao, red Bpongn used for
household purposes ana eloan,ng. Two.thirls
Of tho pEodslce OF tbs Syrian coast is purchased
by tho native merchants, who snnd ii to Eufops
for sale, wiii!s tho remainder III purchased On
tho spot by Froneh agents, who annually visit
Syria for tho purpobe. Franco takes tho bulk
Of the Anost qualities, whi!e tho reddish and
common spongos aro sent to Germany and In-
glanl. The roYonua derived by Government
from this industry ~ tenth OF tho yall'o Of tho
produce, calculated upon tho priees paid to she
finders By the !raders, and which is paid In cnsI,
by tho former 10 the tax-fasner on the cenoln.
aiou Of AlH Aal0.