The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1896-04-15
SPONGE GARDENING.
PROFITABLE SEA FARMS ALONG THE
FLORIDA COAST.

conrsraiag an Article Of UtnIty-As.i.t-
Anee Rendered the Industry by the Gov
srnn'ent's Fish commIs.ion-
Ever since the sponge fisheries Of the
Bahamas and the gulf coast Of Florida
showed signs Of becoming exhausted cf-
forts have been made TO cultivate sponges
ON farms or artificial beds. and more re-
Gently science has tried TO initiate the
genuine article by converting the soft
tber Of the oocoanut leaves and shells
into sponges Of commercial valua
Sponge farming is now n successful in
dustry. and hundreds Of acres in the 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 10 five
fathoms in depth.
A few years ago the fish commits
sioners had their attention called to the
sponge fisheries or 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 IL the
proper conditions were supplied. The
sponges in the artumn were found TO de-
velop masses of protoplasm OF spores.
which in the spring Of the year were lib
Grated These spores contained the small
reproductive PARTICLES from which the
sponges developed Some Of the sponges
experimental with did not reproduce
their kind at all, and il was found that
IN order TO cultivate the sponges IL was
necessary to plant spongcs that pro-
duced certain cells that contained the
ova or egg and others that represented
spermatozoa
A small sponge farm was established
nc Washington. and then others along
the Florida coast as experiments These
proved successful, 80 that private indi.
vlduals went into the business There
are many acrcs of sponge farms near
Key West, and others at Anclote. Fla,
and near Tampa These farms were first
supplied with their seeds from the fish
commissioner, but now they ara OBJ
tanned direct from the sponge fisheries.
In tho autumn Of the year the various
kinds Of sponges are purchased hy the
sponge culturist, who generally takes an
assortment that is sure 20 supply him
with both the male and female celia
The beds, or farms. are usually locat- /
ed nc some we'll protected place along 1
tho coast and fenced in with natural for /
nations and artificial dams The sponge |
seeds are kept in small "pounds'' .
through the winter. where the nlasscs Of /
develop and gruw Early in /
the spring these spores arc liberated in |
the larger body of water. where they /
soon swim around The egF-s continue 70 !
grow rapidly, and in "A short time attach /
themselves 20 the rocks or curnl forna- I
tion at the bottom Of the water.
IL Is very difficult TO gct the right /
location for an ideal sponge bed An /
arm of the sea where the salt water 4
flows in freely that has n natural hard \
bottom Is the best. Rocks, stones and \
other substances can be dropped at the /
bottom for the sponges 20 ftstcn them. /
selves q. Tho lagoon is then damned /
mp. So that when the seed is put in fresh 4
IL cannot float out TO sea again. Some \
simply throw their spongcs in such q
lagoon I'm tho fall Of the year and let the
develop there. Under pruper
the spunges thus raised are
superior to those found in the sc.. Only
the best varieties arr prupagated- The
'sl,eepswool' Is the choicest, with a tex
ture fine. soft and strong. These sponge
sell for FROM $3.50 to s3 n pound The
yellow sponge is next in quality. ard
is price is much less than the ''shccps-
wool " The grass sponge RAISED {.
very limited, for its value Is too small
10 pay one for the trouble.
After the sponge farm il once started
here is little lOre 70 do with Il except
It harvesting time. The rponges grow
ilowly and usually three years elapse b.
ore any are pulled up. Then only the
,hoicest, full grown ones are gathered
The others are left to produce new seods
md to reach IA larger size The picking
u spc :, > in farm Of this nature ia
much simpler than TO raise them from
he deep waters II the gulf Armed with
long leaded pole boatnlan can easily
ianl up the spungcs that he needs. and
n the cuUre Of n day he could gather
hree times the quantity pulled up by
he regular sponge fishermen OF the
cast The water is comparatively shal.
ow over the artificial beds. and not dis
urbed by tides. floating debris OF winds.
Is also very clear and pellucid, so that
lie can see the bottom for long dis
ance down Occasionally one finds n
pouge farm where deep sea spongcs are
cultivated. and il is necessary. then. 70
ave n diver 10 gather them Here again
he work Is made easier The diver runs
70 risk from sharks. tides or other in
onveniences that daily beser those OF
be coast
The value Of the sponge farm increases
! a.. r-..l.- lit. a.. ....----n 1