Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1885-09-12
ras sposeE INDUsrKs.

rHE sP0NeE INDUSTRY.
How Il Il Carried On BY the Bshana
Albany Argus.
Previous to about 1850 the Bahama IL
landaTs cared little for anything that W9s
more tame than wrecking. That was the
favorite business of both men and NO
men, who thought virtually nothing Of
pursuing the ordinary methods of OBJ
tanning livelihood. But when the num-.
Der of wrecks were lessened BY the cree
ton of lighthouses and the substitution
of steam for sailiog craft, the islanders
turned their attention to the cultivation
of the soil and the exploration of the
depths of the sea. The outcome became
twofold. The two industries that sprang
up were the pineapple business and the
sponge trade, which are now of such inn
portance that they bring considerable
money into the colonies, and furnish
steady and lucrative employment to sew
eral thousand persons.
When the first sp0nges were taken cut
they were commercially divice into two
classes, the <Jarse and fine, worth respect
lively and 10 cents q pound. Now, there
are recognized to be nine classes, which
in the order of their values are sheep
wool, white reef, velvet, dark 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
A. IL - -
rebellion the amount of sponge gathered
annually scarcely exceeded one ton, and
it was worth on an average $26 per hum
died pounds. From 1868 to 1866 the
people lapsed into ways akin to their old
pursuits, blockade running engrossing
their attention to such an extent that
little was done in any legitimate employ
ment. But Immediately upon the close
of the war the sponge trade grew brisk,
and 80 continued until the outbreak of
the Cuban instruction drove the sponge
fishers away from the Cuban coast. In
1873 the Spanish consul at Nassau issued
one hundred licenses at $25 each, to Ba-
hamian vessels to sponge off Cuba, and
all was going nicely when the Spaniards
waxed Jealous, and have never permitted
any operations in their waters. Since
that time sponging has been confined to
Bahamian waters.
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 about along
the banks and among the reefs, they car
~ six weeks supply of provisions and do
not run under lee except in case of
otoruo Tho Spopuoc c>eo fo,,pd vboro tho
water is shallow and are to be seen grow.
ing on the rocks and reefs. They are
caught by diving, or by means of iron
hooks fastened to slender poles. Wher
first brought to the surface they are black
gelatinous and soft, for the sponge prope,
is only the skeleton of jelly like sea
animal. The catch, spread on the decks
of the vessels, dies and the living cover
ing decays, emitting a horrible odor in
decomposing. When.a cargo is secured
the vessel puts in at it's home bay and
the sponges are placed in pen of stakes
at the waters edge where the action of
the tide tends to remove the black COW
ering. The process is completed by
pounding by hand, and the sponges are
strung on strips of palmetto, each strip
having four spongee, and being called q
"beed." A cargo OF "beeds" is worth
from 500 to $500, and the sales and
are substantially controlled by
the Nassau Sponge Exchange company,
limited. which is chartered and makes
regular exchange sales.
After the sponges are clipped to good
shape they are put to soak in watts OF.
lime water. and after several hours are
dried and bleached ir the sun. Next day
they are pressed into bales, each two by
three feet, and weighing one hundred
pounds. These bales, when incased in
bagging and strongly corded are ready
for shipment. All of the work from catch |
ing to shipment is done by native blacks.
The average current prices of sponges on
ship are: Sheep wool and white
reef, rs cents a pound; velvet, IS cents;
dark reef and boat, IS cents; hardhead,
80 cents; grass and yellow, 20 cents; glove,
Is cents. Nearly all 60 either to the
United States or England :, and the total
worth exceeds $150OOO, of which this
country handles 100000 or more.