The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1895-05-08
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WEDNESDAY. MAY 8, 1895.
SPONGE GARDENING.
PROFITABLE SEA FARMS ALONG THE
FLORIDA COAST.

Interesting Facts Not Generally Known
Concerning an Article of UtilIty-Assist
ance Rendered the Industry by the Gov
ernment's Fish Commission.
Ever since the sponge fisheries Of the
Bahamas and the gulf coast of Florida
bhowed signs of becoming exhausted eff
forts have been made to cultivate sponge'
On farms or artificial beds, and moro re
gently science has tried to initiate the
genuine article by converting the soft
fiber of the cocoanut leaves and shells
into sponges of commercial value.
Sponge farming is now q successful in
dustry, and hundreds of acres in tho gulf
of Mexico along the Florida coast are
planted with "sponge cuttings" and
seeds. The work is not dissimilar in
many respects to oyster culture. The
young sponges are planted in water
along the coast varying from one to five
fathoms in depth.
A few years ago the fish commits
sioners 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 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 Of the year
were found to be reproductive If the
proper conditions were supplied. The
sponges In tho autumn were found to de-
velop masses of protoplasm or spores,
which In the spring Of the year were lib
Grated. These spores contained the small
reproductive PARTICLES from which the
Bponges developed. Some of the sponges
experimental with did not reproduce
their kind at all, and it was found that
b. order to cultivate the sponges it was
necessary to plant sponges that pro-
duoed certain cells that contained the
bva or egg and others that represented
Epermatozoa.
A small sponge farm was established
ut Washington, and then others along
tho Florida coast as experiments. These
proved successful, SO that private indi-
viduals went into the business. There
are many acres of sponge farms near
Key West, and others ct Anclote, Fla. /,
and near Tampa. These farms were first
supplied with their seeds from the fish
commissioners, but now they arc OBJ
tanned direct from the sponge fisheries.
In the autumn of the year the various
kinds of sponges are purchased by the
sponge culturist, who generally takes an
assortment that is sure to supply him
with both the male and female cells.
The beds, or farms, are usually locat-
ed at some we'll protected place along
the coast and fenced in with natural for.
nations and artificial dams. The sponge
seeds are kept in small pounds
through tho winter, where the masses Oh
protoplasm develop and grow. Early il
the spring these spores are liberated il
the larger body of water, where they
soon swim around The eggs continue tC
grow rapidly, and in short time attacf
themselves to the rocks or coral forma
ton at tho bottom Of the water.
1t is very difficult to get the RICH
location for an ideal sponge bed. Al
arm Of the sea where the salt waite
flows In freely that has natural hare
bottom is the best. Rocks, stones mC
other substances can be dropped at TIN
bottom for the sponges to fasten them
selves to. The lagoon is then damned
up, so that when the seed is put in fresl
it cannot float out to sea again. SOM
simply throw their sponges in such
lagoon in the fall Of the year and lot TIN
protoplasm develop there. Under prope
cultivation the sponges thus raised ar,
superior to those found in the sea- Onl,
the best varieties are propagated Th'
"sheopswool" is the choicest, with u tex
ture fine, soft and strong. These sponge'
sell for from 81. so to So a pound. Thu
yellow" sponge is next in quality, ant
its price is much less than tho "sheeps
wool" The grass" sponge raised il
very limited, for its Value is too small
to pay one for the trouble.
After the sponge farm is once started
there is little more to do with it except
ut harvesting time. The sponges grow
slowly and usually three years elapso be.
fore any arc pulled up. Then only the
choicest, full grown ones are gathered.
The others are left to produce new seeds
and to reach q larger size The picking
Of sponges in farm Of this nature is
much simpler than to raise them from
thee y waters of the gulf. Armed with
To-, loaded pole boatman can easily
haul up the sponges that he needs, and
in the course of 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 thai
one can SEQ the bottom for n long dis
lance down. Occasionally one finds {
sponge farm where deep sea sponges art
cultivated, and it 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 III
eonveniences that daily beset those OF
the coast.
The value Of the sponge farm increase
every year despite the annual harves
that is taken therefrom. The new
sponges are spreading until every squar
inch of the bottom and sides of the pom,
are covered with young and old sponges
If no diseases or enemies get into tn
bed, the sponges will then yield enor
NOUS crops year after year. The annua
income from good sized bed range
from 81 900 to Sic, 200, according to it
size, location and age. -Philadelphi
Times.
Tried to Brace Up.
Wife-Vou,v a hon, frintin1t An,