The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1895-05-09
SPONGE GARDENING.
PROFITABLE SEA FARMS ALONG Tlsg
FLORIDA COAST.

&NAAMA
showed signs u becoming exhausted e.
forts have heen made 70 culfivata spongon
ON farms or artificial beds. and more re-
Gently science has tried 70 initiate TIE
genuine article by couverting the auft
hbcr u the cocoannt leaves and shsIla
into sponEes u commercial vnlnA
Sponge farming is now a Eucce9Eful In
dusfry. and hundreds q acrea in the gun
q Mexico along the Florida coast Are
planted with sponge cuttings" and
seeds The work is not dissfmilAx In
many respects 70 oyster culture. The
young sponges are planted IN water
along the coast varying from one % Eve
faihoms in depth
A few years ago the hsh commia-
sioners had their attention called 20 the
Z sponge fisheries OF the FlorfdA coast.
I and after finding that the beds were BE-
/ ing rapidly deplcted of the bost stock.
Z an examination q the fisheries was made
. 10 ascertain some way q preserving
I them. The specimens of sponge taken 20
I Washington in the autumn Of the year
| were found 10 Be reproductive II the
I proper conditions were supplied The
i spunges in the autumn were found 60 de-
.
which in the spring u the year were lib
Grated These spores contained the small
reproductive particles from which the
sponges develUpcd some d the sponges
expcrimcntcd with did nOt reproducs
their kind az all. and IL was found thai
in order 10 cultivate the sponges IL WA
Necessary 20 plant sponEes that pro
dncsd certain cells that contained the
ova or egg and others that represented
sTsrmatuzua
A small sponge farm was established
at Washington. and then others along
the Florida coast A. expcrimentS These
proved successful. 90 that private tndi-
: viduals went into tho business There
are many acrcs u sponge farms near
? Kcy West. and others at Anclota. Pa,
and near Tampa These farms were hrst
supplied with their sceds from the Ash
commissioners. but now they are oo-
tanned direct from the sponge fisheries
In the antumn q the year the various
kinds u sponges are purchased By the
/ sponge culturist. who generally tAkes an
ass1rtmeut that is SURE 20 supply him
with both the male and female celia
The bcsls. OF farms. ara usually locat-
, "a az sume well protected place along
the coast and fencs-d in with natural for
nations and artificial dams The sponge
scs,is are kept In small ''pounda"
through the winter. where the masses q
prutoplasIn develop and grow. Early In
!, the spring these spores are liberated In
4 the larrer body of water. where they
= som swim around The egzs continne 20
l. a,ruw rapidly. and in \ short time attach
a themselves 90 the rocks OF coral forma-
e tiun az the bottom q the water.
Il Is very difficult 70 get the night
.e location Tor an ideal sponge bed An
=, arm q the sea where the salt water
flows In freely that has n natural hard
bottom i the best Rocks. stones and
10 other substances can be dropped at tha
hutfum Tor the spunges 20 fasten them
selves to The lagoon IL then damned
- up. so that when the Sod Is put in freaf
y, :, ,--.-,qt fioat out 20 sea again SONS
- simplv throw heir sponEes IN sE'ch
lagoon in the fall u gFs year and let tn
prutnplasm develop there. Under props
p cultivation the sponges thus raised Ar
-, superior % those found in the sea Only
the hest varieties are propAgzted II
- 'shceTswool' j. the choicest. with = ten
~ turc fine. soft and strong. These sponge.
le sell for from 81. so 90 e3 a pound Th'
yellow" sponge j. next "a quality, and
a. it, price j. much les than the Sleeps
= wool The "grass" sponge raised 4
very limited. for is value Is too small
20 pay one for the trouble.
n After the sponge farm is once starteS
re- there j. l'ttle more % do with 10 excep
.s. at harvesting time The spongss grow
slowly and usually three years elAp@e Be
q, fore any are pulled up Then only th
- choicest. full grown ones are gathered
- The others are left 20 produce new seec
u .eld 10 reach larger size. The pickinl
j. II .urnzes in = farm of this nature
r4ueh simpler than 90 raise them fror
the ierp y aters q the gulf Armed wit
:, =. long lsa.,ed pole a boatmAn can easil
N haul up fle spOnges that he needs, an
= iu the cgursa - : day he c0uld gathe
three times the quantity pulled mp 3
ln the regular sponge nsheTmen on u
coasf The water Is comparatively EhAl
low over the artificial beds. and not dii
turl.d BY tides. floating debris OF wtDdi
ln II Is also very clear and pellucid, 40 tha
er osle t.a1f $50 the bottom for long dt'
id tanre down Occasionally one hnds
y st.onge farm where deep sea spongea a.
!. cultivated. and it l. Necessary. then.
"a have \ diver 20 gath = theIn- nere As'Ai
t. the work is made easier. 1ns diFer run
no risk from sharks. tides - ot1er "
cuuveuiences that daily beses Inl1s 2
u the cast.
ir The value Of the sponge farm fncreasa
r. every year despite tho annual hArveG
that Is taken therefrou- The new
sponges arc Spreading until every sQuar,
or inch u the bottom and sides Of the pom
X are covered with young and old Spongex
- II no diseases O. enemies get into II,
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