The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1875-04-15
Syrian Sponges.

The latest project before the Aeclimati-
zation Society of Paris is the cultivation. &.
of the celebrated Syrian sponge in the wa,
tiers of Southern France, valuable ana
most useful product, which, like many
another gift of the sea, is in danger OF eX-
termination through excessive fishing.
The sponge-producing grounds of Syria
occur along the coast, from Mount Carmel
in the south to Alexandretta in the north,
the centers of production being T1pol,
Ruad, I.attakia, and Bartroun, on the
coast of Mount Lebanon. The best quail
ties are found in the neighborhood OIL
TripoH and Bartroun. According 10
late report of the British vice consul az
Beyrout, as many as three hundred boatS
are engaged in the fishery the annual
Weld, though falling off through the ex-
haustion of the grounds, still amounts to
100000 to S125,000. The majority OF the
boats used are ordinary fishing boats, from
eighteen to thirty feet in length, three
parts decked over, and carrying one mast
with an ordinary lug sail. They are
manned by a crew of four or five men,
one to haul and the rest to serve as divers.
In former years the coast was much fire.
uuented by Greek divers from the islands
of the Archipelago the number Is now
restricted to five or six boats year, the
skill of the Syrian combined with hls bet
ter knowledge of the fishing grounds,
enabling him to compete successfully with
his foreign rival.
Diving is practiced from a very early
age up to forty years, after which few are
able to continue the pursuis prohtady.
The depth to which the diver descends va
ries from five to thirty "brasses," or from
TWENTY-FIVE to one hundred and seventy
| five feet. The time he isable to spend un-
der water depends on natural capacity, age,
and training: 60 seconds time is reckOned
good work-in rare instances 50 seconds
are spent under water. The Syrian diver
uses heavy stone to carry him quickly
| TO the bottom, and is drawn up by COM
rade. On the bottom, he holds the guide
rome with one hand and tears OFF the
sponges with the other, placing them in
| net which he carries. No knife, spear, or
/ instrument of any kind is used in detach-
! ing the sponges; nor does he, IKE hls
Greek competitor, ever use the dlVlnS
dress, having an antipathy to 1t on the
score of its reputed tendency to produce
paralysis of the limbs. Two or three IA
| tai accidents occur annually, manly
among the skillftll and daring, who some
| times drop the rope TO secure tempting
prize. and missing it on their return, at
| tempt to rise to the surface unaided, and
are drowned. AT other times the diver
will be wounded by jagged rocks. or his
rope will become entangied, exposing MN
| to great risks where the depth is great
Though varying much in quality and
size, the spenges are roughly divioed lhTo 3
three classes: Q) The fine white bell
shaped sponge, known as toilet sponge;
| f2) the large reddish variety called bath
sponge; (3) the coarse red sponge used
for household purposes, carriage clean
ing, etc. Two thirds of the produce OF
the Syrian coast are purchased by native
merchants for expectation, while the re-
naming third is purchased on the spot by
French agents. France takes the bulk %; OF
the finest qualities. One tenth the price
received by the finders goes to the gov
ernment for revenue.
Ii is possible that this high-priced and
durable variety of sponge might De cult
waited in our Southern waters, as a substl-
tute for the beautiful but tender sponge
they now yield. The experiment would
be worth trying.-SeieHtifc Ar1sT1eo''.