The record-union., 1891-08-27
COMMERCIAL SPONGES.
Sources of Supply for the Amerl-
can Market.
Florida Fishing Grounds-Interestfn
Information as to the Methods Oh
Catching, Curing and Growth.

For many years the United States has
engaged in an extensive trade in sponge
producing regions in the world, notably
the waters of the Mediterranean Sea
and of the coasts of Florida and the
Brahmas.
The trade was carried on first in
limited way to supply druggists with the
finer qualities of Mediterranean sponges,
for which alone there was then demand.
AS their usefulness for great variety OF
domestic and professional purposes was
known and appreciated, and foreign
sponges became more costly, attention
was directed to the abundant growths
upon the Florida reefs.
The people of Key West had long used
these sponges in their houses and about
their boats, but they had never learned
to discriminate between the several va
rieties, which, based upon difference in
structure, shape, texture and sondlty,
have given rise to many commercial
grades, according to which sponges are
classified and sold.
GRADED AS TO QUALITY.
The Florida grades, arranged in the
order of their value, are: SheepSWool,
velvet, yellow, grass and glove, the
sheepswOol taking pre-emlnence over
the other grades because OF the hnenesS
of its texture. 1t also compares most
favorably with the Turkish sponge ofthe
Mediterranean, which has a high COM
mercial value, largely due to the fact
that il has been carefully cleansed and
bieached, and what is of more iInpOr-
tance to many purchasers, grew i'll for
eign waters.
The Turkish and other Mediterranean
VII hn
classified according to compactness or
solidity of structure. The Turkish
sponges are first graded, as to their text
ure, into fine and coarse. These grades
are again sorted with reference to their
Ehape and substance, the round compact
forms being greatly preferred to those
that are flat and irregular in outline, and
perforated with large holes. The differ
ence in value between the subdivisions of
the several varieties is determined by their
solidity and shape.
The clear, regular specimens of the
finest teXtured Turkish sponges are sold
at wholesale at prices ranging from So TO
$50 a pound, while the inferior shapes of
the same texture can be purchased for a
few dollars pound. Next in quality to
the finest Turkish grades are the Sleeps
wool sponges of Florida and the Bahia
mas, bringing from 81 80 to 81 p pound.
Notwithstanding the difference in price
spongeS, the latter are not now cOnSid-
cred to be as inferior to the former as
their respective prices would indicate,
and are much TO be preferred for all the
nicer purposes TO which they are applied.
When properly prepared they are more
elastic and durable, though not SO fine
and close in texture.
SUPERIORITY OF FLORIDA sPONGEs.
While the Florida and Bahama Sleeps
l.11r
there is marked difference i'll their
qualities, due in part to the character and
mode of growth, and in part to the
method of preparation. The texture of
the first named variety is finer, and the
masses grow in better and more compact
shapes.
On examination the Bahama sponges
are seen to have tendency to develop an
open structure, and are often pierced
from below by large cavities, produced
by the Irregular character Of the sea bot
tom on which they grow
About the year 1852 specimens of Flor
ida sheepswOol spOnges were placed in
the market. They We're found to be very
durable and to far outlast the Turkish
varieties, and the demand for them in
creased so rapidly that a flourishing
business Sprang up and soon assumed
large proportions. The merchants of Key
West took an active part in the conduct
OF this industry, as was quite natural,
Key West being at that time the only
moneyed city on the Gulf coast near the
fishing grounds. Its people, as a class,
had moreover been accustomed to a sea-
faring life.
1t is estimated that at least 75 per cent.
in value of all the Florida sponges sold
are OF the finest sheepswool variety.
INDISCRIMINATE FISHING.
Marketable sponges range in weight
from one ounce to pound, but the inter
mediate sizes are most in demand. The
fishing grounds cannot be made to yield
the desired supply, and there is danger
that they will be exhausted by the con-
tiuuous drains made upon them. For
merly only large sponges were detached
from the reefs, but during late years, be-
cause of indiscriminate fishing, the sup
ply has been diminished, and many Of
the specimens now sold are of very in
ferior character.
Certain sections of the Florida fishing
grounds have become almost depleted
and, that a valuable industry be not de-
stroyed, a scheme has been devised to
provide for a rotation in the grounds
tished over, with Il view to leaving each
section undisturbed for a number of
years, that the young growths may be
protected and have time to develop. "The
sponge, like the oyster, is a stationary
animal, and is also restricted in its dis
tribution TO certain limited areas which
are favorable to its growth. The supply
is entirely dependent upon the yield of
these few grounds, and is in no way in
nuenced by migrations from without"
CULTIVATED sPoNGEs.
Because of the threatened depletion of
portions Of the sponge ground. expert
nents in regard to the artificial propaga-
tion of spOnges have been successfully
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