The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1896-05-14
SPONGE GARDENING.
PROFITABLE SEA FARMS ALONG The
FLORIDA COAST.

COn-ernInE an Article OF Utnity-Asslst-
anes Rendered the Industry BY the Gov
srnnisnrs Fish cOmmlaaion-
Ever since the sponge fisheries OF the
Bahamas and the gulf coast Of Florida
showed signs Of becoming exhausted ef-
forts have been made 90 cultivate spunges
ON farms or artificial beds. and more re-
Gently science has tried TO initiate the
genuine article by converting the soft
fiber Of the coooanut leaves and shells
into sponges Of commercial value
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 20 oyster culture. The
-ocng sponges are planted in water
along the coast varying from one TO five
fathoms in depth
- few years ago the fish commits
siuncrs had their attention called To the
sponge fisheries of tho Florida coast,
and after finding that the beds were be-
ing rapidly depleted Of the best stock.
an examination Of the fisheries was made
10 ascertain some way Of preserving
them The specimens Of sponge taken 90
Washington in the autumn Of the year
were found to be reproductive IL the
proper conditions were supplied. The
sponges in the autumn We're 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
sponges developed. Some OF tho spongcs
experimental with did not reproduce
their kind ut all and il was found that
in order to cultivate the sponges il was
necessary to plant spongcs that PR
dnced certain cells that contained til
ova OF egg and others that represented
spermatozoa-
A small sponge farm was established
at Washington. and then Others alona
the 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 at 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 auSumn 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 well protected place along
| the coast and fenced IN with natural for
nations and artificial dams The sponge
seeds are kept in small pounds"
through the winter, where the masses Of
| protOplaSn develop and grow. Early in
/ the spring these spores are liberated in
the larger body Of water. where they
soon swim around The eggs continue to
grow rapidly. and in n short time attach
themselves TO the rocks or coral forna-
tion at the bottom Of the water.
IL is very difficult TO get the right
location for an ideal sponge bed An
arm of the sea where the salt water
flows in freely that has a natural hard
bottom j. the best Rocks. stones and
other substances can be dropped at the
bottom for the spOngcs to f.lsten them
selves to. The lagoon is then damned
up, 30 that when the seed is put in fresh
it cannot fnat out TO sea again Some
simply throw their sponges in such n
lagoon in the fall of the year and let the
prUtoplasm develop there. Under proper
cultivation the sponges thus raised are
superior TO those found in the sca- Only
the best varieties are propagated The
"sheepswool'' is the choicest. with "A tex
ture fine, soft and strong. These sponges
sell for from 81. so to SS n pound The
yellow" sponge is next in quality. and
- - L. sN.a -
wool The grass" sponge raised IL
very limited. for its value is too small
to pay one for the trouble
After the sponge farm il once started
there is little lore TO do with il except
at harvesting time. The rpOnges grow
slowly and usually three years clapse be-
fore any are pulled up. Then only the
choicest. full grown ones are gathered
The others are left 70 produce new seeds
and to reach a larger size. The picking
Of spOnges in n farm Of this natura Is
much simpler than TO raise them from
the deep waters OF the gulf. Armed with
a long loaded pole n boatman can easily
haul mp the spOnges that he needs. and
, in the course Of day he could gather
, three times the quantity pulled mp by
the regular sponge fishermen of the
coast The water is comparatively shall
low over the artificial beds. and not dis.
turbed by tides, floating debris or winds.
IL is also very clear and pellucid, so that
oEe can see the bottom for n long dis
tance down Occasionally one finds =
sponge farm where deep sea spOnges ara
cultivated, and il is necessary. then. n
have diver 10 gather them Here again
the work is made easier. The diver runs
, no risk from sharks. tides or other in
conyeniences that daily beset those OF
, the C.
, The value of the sponge farm increases
every wear despite the animal harvest