The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1878-06-01

The Sponge Trade of Bahamas.
The uses of the sponge have become SO
universal and multifarious throughout the
world that the demand is constantly in
creasing, and already the sponge fisheries
form an important industry in at least two
sections of the world. The sponges of
commerce are obtained chiefly from the
Bahama Islands and the Grecian Archi-
pelago or eastern Mediterranean Sea. The
numerous uses of the sponge can hardly be
reckoned in brief article; but it is almost
impossible that in cheapness and utility
any substitute for this article can ever be
found. 1t enters largely into our domes-
tic economy, and for toilet purposes is al
most necessity. Sponges are an indis-
pensable article for surgeons use, both in
the hospital and on the battle field, or for
any use requiring their moisture absorbing
and moisture giving qualities. The exte
rior is both elastic and priekly, so that in
cleansing delicate or polished surfaces the
finer sponges have no equal, much less
superior Within the past few years
sponges have been much used in packing
delicate glassware and statuary, being bet
ter for that purpose than either cotton,
straw, or shavings, aud mattresses or cush-
ions made of sponges are neither new nor
uncommon. In fact, there seems to be no
limit to the variety Of uses to which this
product Of the sea may be adapted.
We may readily infer from the increase
of trade in sponges that the industry is
yet in its infancy, and that in years to
come it viii grow to the rank and dignity
of a commerce, employing large capital,
fleets of vessels, and thousands of skilled
workmen in all branches of the business.
Our own interests in this trade are more
closely allied to those of the Bahamas
Our proximity and frequent communica-
tion with their chief port and capital city,
Nassau, n. p, make New York the natu-
raj entrepot of this trade, and having re-
Gently visited those islands / beg leave to
present few facts which may prove of
interest
In the year 1877, 100000 pounds, or
about s120,0 900 worth, of sponges were ex-
ported from the Bahamas. Ofthis amount
nearly 100000 pounds were brought to
the United States, and the remainder sent
to England and Canada: and the resident
merchants expect a large increase in the
trade this year.
The varieties of sponges known to com
merce (given in order of their value) are:
the sheepwool, silk or glove, velvet, reef,
yellow, honeycOmb, hardhead, and grass.
The sheepwool is the most valuable, being
a tough, elastic sponge, and probably the
finest kind known for the bath. The vel
vet is a softer variety, and is much used
for packing; it is also good sponge for
toilet purposes, but is not so tough or du-
rable as the sheepwool. Silk or glove
sponges are the most delicate and elastic of
all the varieties, and are the sponges used
by surgeons. Its ashes were once favor
ite remedy for scrofulous diseases, but
iodine and bromine, from which the ashes
derived their value, are now given in other
forms. The reef sponge resembles the
glove, but is coarser. 1t is used for pack
ing, making mattresses and cushions, and for
for toilet Yellow, hardhead, honeycomb,
and grass sponges are useful for various
household purposes, washing carriages,
rubbing down horses, and also for packing
and padding.
The sponge fisheries give employment
to about 500 vessels and 1000 persons,
mostly colored. The vessels cruise among
the different islands, the best sponges COM
ing from off Abaco. Their trips extend
from two to six weeks, according to the
size of the vessel and the 5tate of the
weather, of the divers are unable to work
in rough water. When first taken from
the sea the sponge is black, gelatinous
mass, emitting very disagreeable odor,
which increases as the mass putre6es.
After the divers have gathered sufh-
cient quantity, these black masses, forming
the sponges, are taken ashore, where they
are either buried in the sand or exposed
to the sun for several days; after decompo-
sition has ceased the sponges are beaten
with clubs, this beating removing many of
the dead animals in the form of black dust
This is followed by thorough washing in
sea water, after which they are slowed in
the vessels hold. The former method of
cleansing the sponges was to put them in
a wire cage (after the sand buriaD and ex-
pose them to the action of the tide, which
would remove all extraneous matter; but
as the salt water would also rot the sponge,
the old method is not now practiced.
On reaching port the sponges are put
in care of the vessels agent, who divides
them into different portions or lots The
sponge merchants or brokers then write
their bid or tender for each lot and hand
it to the agent, who, awards each lot to
its highest bidder; the profits of the sale,
after paying the vessels expenses, to be
divided among the crew and divers. The
purchasers then send their sponge carts to
convey their newly bought property to
their respective yards. The cart used for
this purpose is a two wheeled vehicle, sur
mounted by high framework to hold the
sponges, and is usually drawn by donkey
or diminutive horse In the yard the
spongcs are sorted and thoroughly dried;
the coarser varieties being washed with
lime water to whiten them. They next
pass into the hands of the clipper, who
with pair of shears clips off the roots and
hard or coarse parts of the sponge. This
process requires skillful workmen, as in
experienced hands are apt to cut either too
much or not enough off the sponge. At
ter clipping the sponges are ready for the
press, where they are baled for shipment
A sponge press is something like a cider
press on large scale, but is made of iron
and requires from two to eight men to turn
the screw.
As the sponges are sold by the pound
and the merchants buy them in quantities,
considerable skill is required to make a
correct estimate of the number of pounds
of clipped sponges in each lot, but the
older merchants rarely make a mistake
against their own interests. The prices
paid in Nassau range from twenty FIVE cts.
to Sl.50 per pound, according to quality
and the state of the market, but the aver
age is about sixty cents. Few of the mer-
chants have grown rich in the trade, but
the prospective increase in the demand
renders them hopeful for the future