The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1892-03-17
ON A SPONGING VESSEL.

ON A sPONGING VESSEL.
How an Imp ortant Industry OF Florida Is
Conducted.
The life of sailor is arduous under the
most favorable conditions, but it is usual.
ly so among that class known on vessels
engaged in gathering sponges as "hook-
ers."
These are men who search the depths
of the sea with water glasses for the ma
rine growths 80 essential in surgery and
pharmacy, and pull them from their rocky
fastnesscs with three-pronged graphing
| irons. Their companions, the "scullers," :"
| may find their daily labor toilsome in
very hot weather, owing to the incessant
movement of their arms from sunrise to
sunset, but their work cannot compare
with that of the "hookers" in weari-
ness.
Active life on sponging vessel begins
about q. M, in fine weather, all hands
being then called by the cook to prepare
! for the labor of the day. After the men
have dressed and washed, coffee, hot as it
can be drunk, is served to them in any
quantity they want, and when that is
disposed of they turn their attention to
mending any oars, poles or boats that
| may need repairing. Breakfast is served
about dawn, and finished before it's light
enough to begin the work of the day. In
summer the men are often in their boats
at half.past 4 a. M, and searching for
spouges as soon as they have light
enough to distinguish one species from
another.
Two men work in each boat, and while
| one sails it the "hooker" lies on bis chest
near the bow and closely scans the depths
below through his water glass. This ap.
psratus consists Of an ordinary wooden
pail with 8 piece of glass in the bottom.
1t is kept as deeply buried in the water
as the "hooker" can keep it with one
hand without putting its rim under.
The sea being usually clear the man
can descry, sponges fifty feet below him,
and, if he is experienced, can distinguish
the various species at glance, each hav.
| ing some paculiarity of eye or form to
| mark it from its congeners.
On noticing valuable sponge the
"hooker" signals or calls to the ''sculler"
| to stop the boat, then takes hold of the
long, iron-pronged pole which lies in
"chocks" beside him, lifts it over his
shoulder with the right hand and sinks it
| to where the marine growth he desires is
| fastened. If the prongs get under the
sponge the "hooker" gives his wrist q
peculiar inward and upward turn which
may loosen the bunch Immediately, or he
may have to work it a long time before
bringing it to the surface.
Much of his success depends on the
| experience and deterity of the "sculler," {"
for unless the latter can get the boat into
| the best position for effective work the
"hooker" may waste much of his time
and strength on refractory spooge or be
forced to leave it below.
The poles used for gathering sponges
vary from eighteen to forty. four feet in
length, and while pliable and we'll bal
anced are difficult to handle in tideways
and deep water. They are generally
placed in "chocks," lengthwise the boat,
about Eve feet of them being in front of
the "hookers." These men must, there
fore, lift the remainder over their shoul-
ders by main strength, raise the further
end almost perpendicularly in the air,
and send the hooked end down to the
sponges as promptly and directly as they
can.
When the men are working in water
varying from six to eight fathoms the
"scullers" generally aid the "hookers" in
getting the poles into the water by lifting
the rear ends as high as possible until
the men in front can push them down
far enough to control their movements
without help.
The long poles are "leaded" at the
prongs to facilitate their descent and to
hold them steady in the water. tire
quires unusual strength to handle these
grapplers promptly and few "hookers"
could do it without the help of the
"scullers." 1t would nevertheless be an
insult to "hooker" to have "sculler''
attempt to aid him With any pole less
than thirty-two feet in length or to offer
his services in pulling an obstinate
sponge from its bed. Each grade has GER
tain ideas about its dignity and the cour.
| tesies due it which the other must respect
if its pre.ensions would be recognized in
return. For ''sculler" to attempt to as.
sist "hooker" with any pole less than
than thirty-two feet in length is gross
violation of these courtesies, and not to
attempt it with one over that leugth is
also violation of the sponger's unwrit-
ten code of ethics.
When sponge is torn from its home
and friends it is placed in its natural po-
sition in the boat to allow the blackish
fluid called 'gurry" to flow away and to
prevent the bunch from being injured in
shape and texture, for shape has much
to do with its sale, the roundest
and most even bringing the highest
price.