The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1888-02-04
AL Asour spoNoEs.


very little 10 known by the general pub
lie about tho production Of the sponge.
The facts concerning It are interesting
aud instructive. and show some strange
features In the lower forms OF animal
life.
A New York Telegram reporter visi-
ted well-known importer OF sponges
exclusively. and obtained from him the
necessary information regarding tho
manufacture Of spongcs. the extent OF
the industry. and many other points
about them not generally known. He
said:
II can not tell you when the sponge
was first used In this world. but II 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 thlrty-five
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"
us the sponge Of vegetable or ami
NAL GROWTH" asked the reporter
.An exhaustive scientific discussion
in this city few years ago resulted in
the conclusion that the sponge is OF
animal growth in It's original state. of
the lowest type. and resembles tho
Glow fish in its appearance. II is first
taken from the water with apuIpy flesh
on, aud 1t Is laid on the shore and COW
cred with rushes until the sun burns
the flesh of. Then II is Graded in
salt water. Tho 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 tingcd or colored
with solution of common washing
soda"
where aud how are they first OBJ
tainedP'
.On the Florida Keys in this country,
around the islands Of the West Indies
and in the Mediterranean Sea. prlnci-
pally in the Greek aud Turkish archip-
elagoes. The natives dive for them.
sometimes in forty fathoms OF water.
where the finest cup sponges are found.
These divers are very short-liyed. aud
in five or six years become deaf blind
and rheumatic, unless eaten by sharks.
rs 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.
for il Is n notorious fact that the native
divers. after getting their vessels we'll
provisioned. will not work. but will
lazily fool about until their supplies
have exhausted. when thoy will fish
until good cargo is obtained, and
then dispose OF IL 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
spongesY'
"Our Florida sea coast supplies the
sleeps wool. velvet, grass. and reef
sponges. From Nassau we get the
Sleeps wool. but II Is not as strong as
the Florida article. though much like
1t and with larger pores, and also the
grass, velvet, reef and wire sponges.
but the latter is not sold 10 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 aud Trieste do the
blccching."
''Has any attempt been made to
grow spongcs in this vicinity"
I'm 1880 il was tried at Bowery Bay
beech. OH Long Island. bnt proved a
failure"
Where do you receive tho finest
spongcs fromP"
Tho Greek archipclago-thc cup
sponges. !"
What arc the principal markcis?'
New York for all grades and Lon.
don. Hamburg and Trieste for Turkish
goods. Nassau has an exchange for
the sponge trade, aud. In fact, Il Is the
principal business OF that place. In
this city there arc sx'importing houses
and the aggregate value OF their tr adc
..s.fs s.f.f. 40 f.f.g. 600