New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-03-25
CORAL AND SPONGE.
SEA TREASURES ON THE FLORIDA COAST

SEA TREASURES ON THE FLORIDA COAST
trRox AN OCCASIONAL ooRRssrosDExr or THE rHHuxE]
Fort Meade Fla, March 16-Florida oranges lemons
and pinesppes have serious falling of in the
import trade OF these fruits from the Mediterranean
regions and South America, and there is good reason
for supposing that In tnc she amply supply tho
hons market with all tho tropical and
semitropical fruits to the exclusion Of
imports. The United States, as one Of the
greatest understanding countries the globe, has
long been valuable market for the fruits Of these
foreign growers, and the loss of its trade viii be mat
ter OF serious consideration to them. Millions Of
oranges, pineapples and lemons that have annually
to this country will 60 begging for customers in
other markets. win rot on the trees where It will not
pay TO have them pickede
But Florida has other resources, which. when prop
ery developed will affect the Industries of these
countries seriously her fruit growing does to-day.
The vast beds Of coral tho southern coast Of the
peninsula stretching out into the water almost to
whore the strong current of the Gulf Stream sweeps
by in its journey northward, large enough fur
nish tho whole world with all the coral necessary
ordinary purposes for the next four or Eve centuries
The United States gets nearly. quite, all Of her coral
from this region, while thousands Of dollars worth
annually exported That there viii be larger market
for It In few years may we'll be imagined when 1t is
remembered that the once famous coral fishery Of
Zorro del Greco is rapidly on the de-
cline. The coral beds Of Sicily and the
vicinity have been overdredged, and It
win be long time before the delicate polyp col
lect enough calcsreous matter from the waters of the
Mediterranean and color It by mysterious pro-
cess to form e coral banks that have been gradually
depleted of their riches During the last season only
100 boats equipped for these fisheries, and the
average return was no moro than three tons for each
and much OF this dead or broken coral, which
brings but comparatively small price. In the pamy
days Of the trade Zorro Greco would oen send out
500 boats each manned by twelve men, tho out
lit representing before = single. haul was made,
90 300 eaoh while the profit from the venture often
rose as high 90 Per cent. -Four thousand people at
one time found employment IN this industry, whilo
now barely fourth Of that number can be supported
The coral fishers themselves migrating IN largo
numbers to tho United ststos the Argentine Republic
and Uruguay whore they find employment In their
own work.
Tho coral fishing on the coast Of Florida is yet In
IT'S infancy. Near Key West hundreds of people are
employed in tho industry but with improved methods
and wider market for It, this number viii DO greatly
,ncrcasod There is an almost inexhausHhlo supply
OF the best coral along the reefs and shore
Of the mainland, which Is waiting TO %
gathered for manufacturing purposes Inou
sands Of dollars are already invested In tho IN
dustry but there Is ample room for thousands moro.
The dredges arc Of most primitive character ana
many Of the workers an inexperienced lot
Extending almost parallel with the coral osnhs
q, a spouse reef It begins few miles
east OF Apalachiools; and hugs the coast
TO within fifty miles Of Cedar Key, ana
stter making break Of one hundred miles IL reap
pears again and runs south 20 Key West and tne
bahama Islands In the neighSorhocd OF Key west
tho coral hshers and sponge fishers work WITHIN ssht
OF each other, both fishing for material that oeoo-
ing desror every year owing D the gradual disappear
a. Aredg n
nom the same reef from which tho sponges have
been taken This is possible, for tho sponge reef
as it is called is principally Of coral changing IN
places 20 genuine limestone. The sponges are found
wherever the bottom is rocky, and 1t is generally
supposed that the rocky ridge extends as lar AZ inc
Texas coast In fact, the supply IS . largo one as
already discovered and the real extent OF 1t Is prob
ably not half known.
where the water Is from ton to thirty feet deep
over the reef the work of gathering sponges Is carried
on continually Many of the sponges are much
superior IN quality to those from the Mexican coast
and they grow 30 rapidly that the same reef can DO
dredeed over cvery two three years. Two or three
dozen sehooners now engaged In the WORK cf
gafhsrng the sponses, each schooner Carrying TWO
small boats, manned by crew OF two. When the
reef Is reached the small bosts put on. and While
one SOULS the other keeps eye out for spongeF
simple contrfvanco enables the watchmen 10 see
gponges the reef twenty feet or more under tho
water. On the side of the small boat long barrel
sort Of arrangement Is built, the lower end OF which
is under water and closed up By q glass head. by
placing his head in this barrel the Waterman sec
through tho clear watsr to tho bottom OF tho sea
with remarkable dstinctness. When good
sponge is detected it Is brought UP with iron hook
on long pole. Considerable mack required TO dis
lodge sponge safely and bring It to the surface with
out iniurng II.
The work Of coral sponge fishing is not Of the
pleasantest nature. The sun boats down on these
fronIoAi seas numerically, and the beat that would
scorch and burn to big btcrs the hands and face Of
a Northerner simply browns the skins OF the hardened
fishers In q INV days II would be dificut TO tell
a negro from o white man, 20 burnt aud broWne4 DO
they become after working IN The sun Short time
II takes Q man Of strong constitution TO stand the
work: and many break down even then, and have 10
adopt some other calling.