The Wichita daily eagle., 1891-09-23

The Prodts OF the Work-The Laborer
Are Chiefly Blacks and Most OF Then
Earn Pretty Small Pay-The Sponge
Sell at a Good Price However.
Consul Thomas j. McLain Of tn.
United States consulate at Nassau, IL
the Bahama islands, in response to the
direction Of the state department, ha.
furnished an interesting paper on the
sponge trade of the Bahamas, In which
the value of the industry and the meth
DDS of catching the sponges are given.
The vessels employed in the trade are
small, varying from FIVE TO twenty-five
tons, sloop or schooner rigged, and are
built in the local shipyards. The con-
structien and repair of these vessels con-
stitute an important industry in itself.
They have small cabins for sleeping pur-
poses. The cooking is done on deck.
About 500 of these vessels are engaged
in gathering sponges.
The number of persons gathering
sponges IN the Bahamas, handling them
and preparing them in v&-ious stages for
market, is from 5000 to 5000, all of
whom, except the shipowners, brokers
and shippers, are black people. Hands
employed in clipping, washing, packing
and preparing finally for shipment
abroad get from fifty to seventy-fivs
cents per day of ten hours. The amount
earned by the men who go fishing de-
pends entirely On the number of sponges
obtained.
The owner of the vessel fits her out at
his own expense, and the profits of the
voyage are divided up in shares among
the owner, the master and the men.
They are never hired by the month, nor
do they ever get specified wages. The
most that can be said is that the men
make a tolerable living, and the sponge
fisherman who earns over $500 year is
the exception.
HOW sPoNGES ARE GATHERED.
The method Of gathering sponges is by
means of iron hooks attached to long
poles. By using waterglass the fisher
man can readily discover the sponges at
the bottom, and then by the pole and
hook can bring up those he may select,
leaving the smaller ones untouched.
Some sponges adhere firmly to the bed
Of the sea, while others are not attached
at all, these latter being known as "roll-
ers."
About ten years ago an attempt was
made to introduce dredges, but it was
found that their use was likely to ruin
the beds, because in passing over the
bottom they dislodged and brought up
not only the good sponges, but the
young and unstable ones as well, kill
ing the spawn and working great mis-
chief. Such an outcry was raised against
dredging that an act was passed forbid
ding it.
When brought to the vessel the
sponges are at once spread upon the deck
and left exposed to the sun for several
days, during which time the animal
matter that covers the sponge gradually
dies. This is a black, gelatinous sub
stance of very low order of marine life,
which, during the process of decay,
emits most Objectionable odor.
The vessels visit what is called the
kraal once a week to land the load from
the deck. The kraal is an inclosed pen,
fenced in by sticks Of wood so as to al
low free circulation Of water through
it, usually built in a sheltered and shall
low bay or cove, on one Of the Gays near
by.
THE CROP OF 1890
The sponges are placed in the kraal
and left to be soaked and washed by the
action of the water from four to six days,
when they are taken out and beaten
with sticks until the decayed covering
s entirely removed. Having been sub
ected to this course of exposure, soak
ng, beating and washing, the sponges
ire quite clean and are taken on board
he vessel, packed in the hold, conveyed |
% Nassau, and in this condition are sold |
n the local market.
OF the larger sponges a catch of 5000 |
IT of the smaller ones 1900, would be |
considered a fair lot. Occasionally a !
largo of from $4,000 to $1,000 large
ponges has been brought in, but this |
success is exceptional.
The principal varieties gathered in the |
Bahamas are as follows: Boat, grass,
,love, hardhead, reef white and dark, |
7elvet (abaco and cay. sheep wool, and /
Fellow, of which the most valuable is
heep wool. The total export in 1890 |
cached over 100000 pounds, valued at |
306, 1885, The crop of that year was
ibove the average, being really the most
'aluable one in many years.
OF that crop there were shipped to the
United States 70s, 900, valued at 1896, 900.
Bahama spOnges are not considered very !
.oed, but ready market is found for
Ii that can be obtained, and at con-
tautly improving prices. There are no
ndications of any failure of the supply.
Ledger.