The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1895-05-11
SPONGE GARDENING.
PROFITABLE SEA FARMS ALONG THE
FLORIDA COAST.

Interesting Facts Not Generally Known
Concerning an Article Of Utility-Assist-
ancc Rendered the Industry by the Gov
crnucnt's Fish Commission.
Ever since the sponge fisheries of tho
Bahamas and the gulf coast of Florida
showed signs of becoming exhausted ef-
forts have been made to cultivate sponges
OH farms OR artificial beds and moro re-
Gently science has tried to initiate the
genuine article by converting tho soft
fiber OF tho cocoanut leaves and shells
into spongcs of commercial value.
Sponge farming is now ii successful in
dustry, and hundreds Of acres in the gulf
Of Mexico along tho Florida coast arc
planted with sponge cuttings" and
seeds. The work is not dissimilar in
many respects to oyster culture. Tho
young spongcs are planted in water
along the coast varying from ono to five
iathoms in depth.
y few years ago the fish commits
kioners had their attention called to the
sponge fisheries off the Florida coast,
and after finding that the beds were be-
ing rapidly depleted of the hest stock,
an examination of the fisheries was made
to ascertain some way of preserving
them. The specimens of sponge taken 20
Washington III the autumn of tho year
were found TO be reproductive if the
proper conditions We're supplied. Tho
spongcs in the autumn We're found to de-
velop masses of prOtoplasm or spores,
which III the spring of the year We're lib
Grated These spores contained the small
reproductive PARTICLES from which the
spongcs developed. Some of the sponccs
experimental With did not reproduce
their kind ut all, and it was found that
i'll order to cultivate the spongcs it was
necessary to plant sponges that pro-
duccd certain cells that contained the
ova or egg and others that represented
spermatoZoa.
A small sponge farm was established
ut Washington, and then others along
the Florida coast as experiments. These
proved successful, so that private indi-
vlduals went into the business. There
arc many acres of sponge farms near
Key West, and others ut Anclote, Fla,
and near Tampa These farms were first
supplied with their seeds from tho fist,
commissioners, but now they arc OBJ
tanned direct from the sponge fisheries.
In the autumn of the year the various
kinds of sponges arc purchased by the
sponge culturist, who generally takes an
assortment that is sure to supply him
with both the malc and female cells
The beds, or farms, are usually locat-
ed at some we'll protected place along
the coast and fenced III with natural for
nations and artificial dams The sponge
seeds are kept i'll small pounds"
through the winter, where the masses of
protoplasm develop and grow. Early in
the spring these spores are liberated in
the larger body of water, whore thcy-
soon swim around. The eggs continue to
grow rapidly, and i'll Il short time attach
themselves to the rocks or coral forma-
ton at the bottom of the water.
1t is very difficult to get the right
location for an ideal sponge bed. An
arm of the sen where the salt water
flows III freely that has natural hard
bottom is the best. Rocks, stones and
other substances can be dropped at the
bottom for the spOngcs to fasten them
selves to- The lagoon is then damned
up, SO tllatWhen the seed is pnt in fresh
it cannot float ont to sea again Some
simply throw their spongcs i'll such a
lagoon i'll the fall Of the year and LET the
protoplaSn develop there Under proper
cultivation tile spongcs thus raised are
superior to those found in the sea. Only
the best varieties are propagatcd. The
"shccpswCol" is the choicest, with Il tex
turc fine, soft and strong. These spongcs
sell for from $l.50 TO So pound The
yellow" sponge is next in quality, and
its price is much less than the Sleeps
wool" The grass" sponge raised is
very limited, for its value is too small
to pay one for the trouble
Alter the sponge farm is once started
there is little more TO do with it except
at harvesting time. The spongcs grow
slowly and usually three years clapSe be-
fore any arc pulled up. Then only the
choicest, full grown ones are gathered
The Others are left to produce now seeds
and to reach larger size. The picking
of sponges III farm of this nature is
much simpler than to raise them from
the deep waters of the gulf. Armed with
long loaded pole a boatman can easily
haul up the spOnges that he needs, and
Ill the course of q day he could gather
three times the quantity pulled up by
the regular sponge fishermen off the
coast The water is comparatively shall
low over the artificial beds, and not dis
turbed by tides, floating debris or winds.
1t is also very clear and pellucid, SO that
one can see tho bottom for long dis
lance down. Occasionally one finds a
farm, Ixl,nro 1oo,,
cultivated and it is necessary, then, to
lAra.- IL L 4