Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1892-03-04
SPONGE FISHING.
DETAILS CONCERNING AN INDUS
TRY IN THE BAHAMAS.
Tho Method of Gathering tho
Sponges and Preparing Them
for Market and the Pro
ats of the Work.

Consul Thomas J. McLain of the
United States consulate at Nassau, in the
Bahama Islands, in respone to the direc-
ton of the State Department. has fur
nishcd an interesting paper on the sponge
trade of the Bahamas, in which tho
value of the industry and the methods
of catching the sponges are given.
The vessels employed in the trade are
small, varying from five to twenty-five
tons, sloop or schooner rugged, and are
built in the local shipyards. The con-
struction and repair of these vessels con-
stitutc 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 Ba.
hamas, handling them and preparing
them in various stages for market, is
from 5000 to G000, all of whom,
except the shipowners, brok-
ers and shippers, are black
people. Hands employed in clipping.
washing, packing and preparing finally
for shipment abroad get from SO to rs
cents per day of ten hours. The amount
earned by the men who go fishing dc.
ponds 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 mover hired by
the month, nor do they ever got specified
wages. The most that can be said Is
that the men make tolerable living,
and the sponge fisherman who earns over
three hundred year is the exception.
The method of gathering sponges is
by means of iron hooks attached to long
poles. BY using water glass the fisher
man can readily discover the spongcs 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 tho bed
of the sea, while others are not attached
at all, these latter being known as
"rollers." About ten years ago an at.
tempt was made to introduce dredces.
but it was found that their use was likely
to ruin the beds, because in passing over
the bottom they dislodged aud brought
up not only the good sponges, but the
young and unstable ones MS well, killing
the spawn and working great mischief.
Such an cutlery was raised against dredg-
ing that an act was past forbidding it.
When brought to the vessel thesponges
arc at once spread upon the deck aud
left exposed to the sun for several days,
during which time the animal matter that
covers the sponge gradually dies. This
is black, gelatinous substance of very
low order of marine life, which, during
the process of decay, emits most OBJ.
jectionable odor. The vessels visit what
is called the kraal once q week to land
the load from the deck. The kraal is an
inclosed pen, fcuce1 in by sticks of wood
so rs to allow free circulation of water
through it, usually built in a sheltered
and shallow bay or cove on one of the
bays near by. The sponges are placed in
the kraal and left to be soaked aud
washed by the action of the water from
four to six days, when they are taken
out and beaten with sticks until the de-
cayed covering is entirely removed.
Having been subjected to this course of
exposure, soaking, beating and washing,
the sponges are quite clean and are
taken on board the vessel, packed in the
hold, conveyed to Nassau, and in this
condition are sold to the iocil market.
OF the larger sponges catch of 5000,
or of the smaller ones 1880, would be-
considered fair lot. Occasionally Il
cargo Of from $4,000 to Is, 01o large
sponges has been brought in, bat this
success is exceptional.
The principal varieties gathered in the
Bahamas are us follows: Boat, grass,
glove, hardhead, reef (white and dark),
velvet, (abaco and cay), sheep wool aud
yellow, of which the most valuable is
sheep wool. The total export in 1890
reached over 000,0 pounds, valued at
$306, 500. The crop of that year was
about the average, being really the most
valuable one in many years. OF that
crop there were shipped to the United
States, 70S, 200, valued at 1926, 600.
Bahama sponges are not considered very
good, but ready market is found for
all that can be obtained and at con-
stantly improving prices. There are no
indications of any failure of the supply.
philadelphia Ledger.
1