The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1885-12-12
THE SPONGE INDUSTRY.
How the Business Is Carried On by the
bahama Islanders.
fAlb4uv Argus

How the Business Is Carried On by the
Bahama Islanders.
fAlbsuy ArgusI
Previous to about 1850 the Bahama
islanders cared little for anything that
was more tame than wrecking. That
was the favorite business of both men
men and women, who thought virtually
nothing of pursuing the ordinary
methods of obtaining livelihood. But
when the number of wrecks were less
ened by the erection of light houses and
the substitution of steam for sailing
craft, the islanders gradually turned
their attention to the cultivation of the
soil and the exploration of the depths of
the sea. he outcome became two-fold.
The two industries that sprang up were
the pineapple business and the sponge
trade which are now Of such Importance
that they bring considerable money
into the colonies, and furnish steady
and lucrative employment to several
thousand persons.
When the first sponges were taken
out they were commercially divided into
two classes, the coarse and fine, worth
respectively ) and 10 cents pound.
Now there are recognized to be nine
classes, which, in the order of their
values, are sheep wool, white reef,
velvet, darA reef, boat, hardhead, grass,
yellow, and glove. Of some of these
varieties there are several grades.
Bahama and Florida sponges are about
of the same value, but they are both
rated in market as inferior to those of
the Mediterranean revious to the re-
bellion the amount of sponge gathered
annually scarcely exceeded one ton, and
it was worth on an average $26 per 100
pounds.
There are several hundred sponge craft
each of eight or ten tons burden, and
carrying from six to twelve men.
Though these vessels merely coast along
the banks and among the reefs, they
carry six weeks supply of provisions
and do not run under lee except in case
Of storm. The sponges are found
where the water is shallow and are to
be seen growing on the rocks and reefs.
They are caught by diving, or by means
of iron hooks fastened to slender poles.
When first brought to the surface they
are black, gelatlnous, and soft, for the
sponge proper is only the skeleton of a
elly-like sea animal. The catch, spread
on the decks of the vessels, dies and the
living co ,ering decays, emitting hor
rible order in decomposing.
When a cargo is secured the vessel
puts in at its home bay and the sponges
are pIaCSO III q pen VI StdhSS dI tuo
waters edge, where the action of the
tide tends to remove the black covering.
The process is completed by pounding
by hand, and the sponges are strung on
strips of palmetto, each strip having
four sponges, and being called Deed. "
A cargo of Deeds" is worth from 800
to $500, and the sales and handling are
substantially controlled by the Nassau
Sponge Exchange company, limited,
which is chartered and makes regular OK
change sales.
After the sponges are clipped to good
shape they are pnt to soak watts of
lime ator, and after several hours are
dried and bleached in the sun. Next
day they are pressed into bales, each
two by three feet, and weighing 100
pounds. These bales, when incased in
bagging and strongly corded are ready
for shipment. All of the work from
catching to shipment is done by native
blacks. Nearly all go either to the
United States or England, and the total
worth exceeds $3.50, 1000, of which this
country handles 500, 900 OF more.