The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1895-10-28
SPONGE GARDENING.
PROFITABLE SEA FARMS ALONG THE
FLORIDA COST.

InirrrEtipr Facts Not Generally Knowr
Concerning an ArtIo,. OF Utnity-Assist
anee Rendered the TEsiustry by the Gov.
ernnsent's Fish Commission.
Ever since the sponge fisheries Of the
Bahamas and the gulf coast u Florida
showed signs Of becoming exhausted ef.
foIts have been made 20 cultivate E,angcs
On farms OF artificial beds, and moro re.
Gently science has tried T. initiate the
genuine article by converting the soft
fiber Of the cocoanut leaves and shells
into sponges of commercial valre.
Sponge farming Is now a successful in
dustry. and hundreds of acres in the gulf
Of Mexico along tho Florida coast are
planted with sponge cuttings" and
seeds The work is not diSsirlilar in
many respects 70 oyster culture The
young sponges are planted in water
along the coast varying froIl ono to five
fathOms in depth.
A few years ago the fish commits
siuuers had their attention called TO the
sponge fisheries of the Florida coast.
apd after finding that the beds were be-
ing rapidly depleted Of the best stock.
an examination of the fisheries was made
To ascertain some way Of preserving
them The specimens Of sponge taken TO
Washington in the autumn II the year
were found TO BE- reproductive il the
proper conditions were supplied. The
spongeS IN the autumn we-e found TO de-
velop masses Of protoplasm o. spores,
which in the spring Of the year were lib
Grated These spares contained the small
reproductive PARTICLES from which the
spongcs developed Some of the sponges
experimental with did not reproduce
their kind ut all. and it was found that
IN order tn cultivate the spongcs il was
necessary To plant Spongcs that pro-
duccd certain cells that contained the
ova or eSg and others that represented
spermatozo.L
y small -p1nge farm was established
ut Washington. and then others along
the Florida casst as experiments These
proved su-ceSsfal. 80 that private indi
viduals went into tho business. There
are many acres Cf sponge farms Rear
Key West. and others st Aucluic. Fla.
and near Tampa Thee farris were firSt
supplied with their seeds fr.ui the fish
commissions. bat now t'.cv arc OBJ
tanned direct from the spungc fisheries
In the ;c>uI,in If the year the various
kinds ot sprngcs are purchased by the
sponge culturist, VIM generally takes ~
assortment that is sure a. supply him
with both the male and female cells
IL
ed ~ some well protected place along
the coast ard fenced ia with natural for.
nations uad artific al dams. The sponge
seeds are kept in small pounds"
through the winter. whC.,. the masses II
protoplasm develop and -.r,w. Early in
the spring these spores a~. liberated IN
the larger hndy of water. whe.r ti.ey
souu Swim around. The tg-,, continrt ID
grow rapidly, and IL q short time attach
themselves % the rocks or coral forlna-
tiou at the bottom of the water
Il is very difficult 10 get the rirlt
location for al ideal sponge bed An
arm Il the sya where tie salt water
flows in finely that has a natural h.sr,i
bottom Is the best. Rock. stones and
other Substances cau ~ d-.pped at the
bottom for the spnngcS to f,stcn ticm-
selves o.. The lagoon l. then darime.
up, 80 that VIXEN the seed Is put in fresh
it cannot float out 70 sea again. some
simply throw their Spoug,s in such "a
lagoon in the fall 81 the year and let the
prOtoplasm develop there. Under proper
cultivation the spungcs Tins raised are
superior to those found IN tine sua Orlv
the best varieties arc prupagatod. Tie
'shceVswool" Is the choicest. with tex
ture fine, soft an1 strong. These spongcs
sell for from Sl.5O % So pound The
yellow sponge Is next in quality. end
its price Is much les than the "shceI,s.
wool - The ''gr,iSs' spuE.e raised J..
very limited. for its value Is too small
TO pay one for the trouble.
After. the sponge farm Is once started
there l. little iore To do with il except
ut harvesting time. The spuugcs grow
slowly and usually three ycgrS clap>e be
fore any are pullcd up Then only the
choicest. full grown ones are gathered
The others are left to produc. new g.
and to reach n larger size The picking
Of sp0ngcS IN farm II this nature l.
much simpler than to raise them from
the deep waters Of the gulf Armed with
a long loaded pole Leatman can easily
haul mp the spongcs that he needs. and
IN the course of day he could gather
three times the quantity pulled NJ by
the regular sponge fishermen of the
coast The water j. comparatively sllal-
low over the artificial beds. and not dis
turbed by tides. floating debris or winds
II Is also very clear and pcllucid. So that
oEe can see the bottom for a long dis.
tance down. Occasionally one finds a
sponge arm where deep sea spongcs arr
cultivated, and il is necessary. then, t.
have diver TO gather them. Here again
the work is made easier The diver runs
no risk from sharks. tides or other in
that daily besct those Oft
the coast.