The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1882-01-28

men S houses, built on stills twenty feet high,
presented no attractions but what they could
see at glance, and the Gander took the first
fair wind down the coast, stopping at Cedar
KEYS several days to examine the cedar mills
of Faber & Co., and the Eagel Pencil Compa-
ny, of New York.
The machinery ofthese mills was wonder
and the orders they had for making different
things in cedar were equally strange. Think
of it! An order from firm in Paris, France,
for five hundred ladies writing desks. The
pieces all neatly gotten out as they could
be put together in Paris and inlaid with other
beautiful woods, papier mache, &c. Another
for six hundred dozen photograph albums, got
ten ont in the same way, and still another from
the many on the list for one thousand dozen of
those little toy cedar buckets for children, and
so on to the never ending orders. After
spending several days there, the "Gander
made IA successful run to Tampa, to look into
into the tropical fruit business, and from there
to Manatee After leaving Manatee, and
when a few hours at sea, the MAYOR spied what
he took to be large flock of wild ducks on
the water ahead He ran to get his gun, but
the Captain told him it was no use as that was
the spongers.
Having spun this letter out beyond the lin
it, | must condense by simply giving short
description of the rest of the coast between
here and Key West. In the sponge business
a man owns a schooner and four small boats.
He then forms copartnership with eight 9th
er men to go sponging. They, on reaching
the blanks put one of the men on the con-
tract as cook. The other eight, owner includ-
ed. take to the four small boats, two in each,
one to row and the other to catch sponge.
/ The water being so clear that they can be dis
tinctly seen on the bottom.
The catcher has a bucket with glass bot
tom on it tied to the side of the boat, and the
/ handles of long fork with the prongs paral-
/ lei with the surface in his hands. When the
water is rough he places his head in the bucket
! when he can plainly see the sponges, to jerk
them off the rock The boat loaded they pull
ashore and put the sponges in the crawl OF
I pen, to decay the worm with which it is filled.
/ 1t takes several weeks for this purpose. but
! when they are thoroughly cleaned and dried
a market is ready for them at all times at 81 90
4 to 81. so per pound. After leaving the sponge
I reefs. the Camden head is turned towards
+ Boea- Grande, the big pass to Charlotte Har-
Dor, the most beautiful on all the coast. 1t is
7 often called the Naples of America, and said
/ to rival in scenery that beautiful harbor OF
4 Italy.
/ Passing Cape Romano. their course is set
towards the palm trees that line the shore OF
the thousand islands of South Florida, near
Cane Sable. and from there u run is made
down the coral reefs to Key West, where we
will leave the ''Gander'' and her jolly crew
/ and passengers. who have had one of the most
delightful trips ever made along any coast.
/ Such trip as but few persons have been so
fortunate to enjoy, and Major Call, Messrs.
Livingston and Scott viii hardly ever forget
''1he cruise OF the Camden.
Ak ON MARYL4NpgR.