Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1888-02-02
ALL ABOUT SPONoES.
Where aud How These Queer AMI
mails Live and Grow.


features in the lower forms of animal
life.
A New York Telegram reporter visi-
ted a well-known importer of sponges
exclusively, and obtained from him the
necessary information regarding the
manufacture of sponges, the extent OF
the industry. and many other points
about them not generally known. He
said:
Il can not tell YOU when the sponge
was first used in this world but it has
been known ever since the Christian
era began. American sponges were
first used in this city by the old Dutch
settlers, and the Greeks introduced the
Mediterranean sponges here tn rty-iive
years ago by hawking them about the
streets, since which time the trade has
grown into millions of dollars annually,
and the industry is an important one.
''Is the sponge of vegetable or ami
NAL growthP' asked the reporter.
'An exhaustive scientific discussion
the conclusion that the sponge is of
animal growth, in its original state, of
the lowest type and resembles the
Glow fish in its appearance. 1t is first
taken from the water with pupy flesh
on, and it is laid on the shore and COW
cred with rushes until the sun burns
the flesh off. Then it is Graded in
salt water The bleaching is done by
the use of magnate of potash, and af-
terward the sponge is placed in oXalic
and muriatic acids, next washed in salt
water, and finally tinged or colored
with solution of common washing
| soda
"Where and how arc they first OBJ
taned"
ION the Florida Keys in this country,
around the islands of the West Indies
] and in the Mediterranean sea, princi-
pally in the Greek and Turkish archip.
elagoes. The natives dive for them,
sometimes in forty fathomS OF water,
where the finest cup sponges Rre found
These divers are very short-lived, and
in five or six years become deaf blind
and rheumatic, unless eaten by sharks,
as is sometimes the case. The natives
run their own vessels. 1t is untrue
that the sponge dealers own and man
age the fleets of small craft used in
sponge fishing, as is generally claimed.
| 10 fnn n ho va
divers, after getting their vessels well
! provsioned, will not work, but will
! lazly fool about until their supplies
have exhausted, when thoy will fish
until "a good cargo is obtained, and
then dispose of it on the outer islands.
Every vessel is manned by from five to
six men, who live on fruit and drink
wine, and are very fond of the society
of women"
"What are the different grades of
spongesP'
"Our Florida sea coast supplies the
Sleeps wool, velvet, grass. aud reef
sponges. From Nassau we get the
Sleeps wool, but it is not rs strong as
the Florida article, though much like
it and with larger pores. and also the
! grass, velvet, reef and wire sponges,
but the latter is not sold to use; the
Mediterranean sponges, called the Turk
ish bath sponge in this country and the
honeycomb in Europe. They are
brought here in the natural state and
bleeched. We also receive from the
same source the silk. surgeons, large
cup. eye cup. toilet and ZamOcka
sponges. The dealers in New York,
London. Hamburg and Trieste do the
| bleeching."
HAS any attempt been made to
grow spongos in this vicinityP"
"In 1880 it was tried at Bowery Bay
beech, on Long Island. but proved II
failure"
Where do you receive the finest
spongcs fromP"
THE Greek archipelago cup
sponges.
''What are the principal markets."
New York for all grades. and Lon
don, Hamburg and Trieste for Turkish
goods. Nassau has an exchange for
the sponge trade, and, in fact, it is the
principal business of that place. In
this city there are SIX importing houses
and the aggregate value of their TT ade
is from 81, 900, 900 to 49, 000 900 annu.
ally. There are five or six jobberS DO.
sides who buy in the market"
"What are the prices of the different
grades
Flor da sleeps wool sell from 80. rs
to SO by the bail of from 90 to 100
pounds; velvet is from 20 cents to 81. so
per pound by the bale; grass is from
30 TO rs cents II pound by the bale, and
reef from SI.35 to $3.50 by the bale.
OF the foreign sponges the Nassau pro.
duct IS sold for 80 per cent less than
the Florida goods. There is duty of
20 per cent on all foreign sponges.
Mediterranean bath sponges are sold
/ f,oc, a ,o,,t. 90 n,;ono