Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1889-08-02
How Sponees are Caught

that lies between Mark 'sIand Anclote
Keys. Accurating speaking, the
sponge reef begins few miles east
of Appalaehieola, and hugs the coast
to within fifty miles of Ceder Keys
Then there is break OF 100 miles,
after which it reappears and runs
south without interruption TO key
West and the Bahama Islands. This
reef, a rock ridge, sometimes of genu-
inc limestone, but generally of coral,
begins some six or eight miles from
shore and continues out indefinitely.
Wherever there is rocky bottom
sponges are said 10 be found, and the
only reason why the fisheries do not
extend completely around the gulf
cost is that in places, "a of the coast
of Texas or Cedar Keys, this rocky
bottom begins in water too deep 10
permit of profitable sponging. The
average depth of water on the st.
Marks reef at six miles from land Is
sixteen feet. The sponges are in
great abundance and of good quality.
The supply is practically ineNhausti-
BILE, as they grow almost "a fast as
gathered, a sponge requiring only
about two years 10 reach maturity.
Nearly all the sponges used in the
United States were brought from the
Mediterranean until 1852, when atten-
ton was called TO the immense mum
bers that were growing in Florida
waters. As soon "a il was found that
the quality of these compared favor
ably with those OF Europe the mer-
chants and fitters-out of vessels OF
Key West engaged very actively in
the business Of placing them on the
market. At first the best qualities
were brought from the fisherman at
the rate of ten cents per pound. AS
Mediterranean sponges became scarce
and costly, the Florida sponges came
into more demand. and their value
increased proportionately. After
about eighteen years fishing upon
the known ground the supply began
TO fail. Then, in 1870, new area OF
ground, larger than the old one, was
discovered, and this gave a new i'm
petus to the trade. In that year APP
palachicola sent out IA small fleet OF
sponge vessels which has since been
largely increased. During the past
eighteen years the business has been
energeticaliy pursued with good re-
suits.
The methods employed in the fish
cry differ greatly from those employed
in the Mediterranean, where divers
go down and bring up the sponges
Small vessels, carrying crews of from
five to fifteen men, are fitted out at
Key West and Appalachicola, for
trips of from four TO eight weeks on
the sponge grounds. The crews are
paired of into small row-boats, or
"dingies, - to catch the sponges One
man stands in the stern, sculling the
boat. while the other kneels In the
bottom amidship, with the upper half
Of his body leaning over the side, and
scans the bottom Of the sea. To aid
the eve an instrument called wa
ter glass; which is common water
bucket whose wooden bottom has
been replaced by one Of glass, is used
by setting il in the water and thrust
ing the face as far into it a. conven-
lent. When a sponge is sighted the
boat is stopped, and the kneeling man
uses two-pronged hook, attached TO
a slender pole thirty or forty feet in
length, to secure il. Considerable
dexterity is required OF both men.
To cure the sponges they are first
spread about the vessels deck In their
natural upright position, 80 that they
will die, and while decomposing allow
the gelatinous matter TO run of free
ly. When they have been several
days in this position they are taken
TO the shore and thrown into the wa
ter in little pens, called 'crawls, :,
where the remaining substance II
soaked and squeezed out.
The spongers thus work Oh, day af-
ter day, under a trorical sun that
burns and browns the skin until one
can not tell white man from negro.
liz is desperately hard life, more severe
than any other that one can think OF,
and il requires men OF no ordinary
constitution to stand up to IL. The
spongers are therefore naturally an
exceedingly muscular set.
The principal season for this fish
cry is the summer, from May to Au-
gust. but the best conditions Of the
water are in winter. and a great deal
of fishing is then carried on with sue
cess. During the hurricane months
Of August. September and March the
vessels are nearly all laid mp. The
state Of the weather greatly affects
the result OF the fishery. When the
water is made rough and rolly by
long-coni inued strong winds sponge
catching becomes iInpracticable. In
some Yeas the fishery has been a
complete failure, while in others 1t
has been very profitable, always ow-
ing 10 the weather. As the natural
beds of sponges have become scarcer
prices have advanced. 20 that even II
a vessel does not secure as large a
quantity in a given time as formerly
the financial result Is about the same.
There are several varieties OF spon-
ges caught in the Florida waters.
There are first, sleeps wool, which
sell for 81 to IS a pound; second, yell
low sponges, which sell for 20 10 60