The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1896-12-11
ARTIEIclAL eroNoR cuLruRr.
A Proposition to Increase the supply
Greatly.

A Proposition 20 Increase the supply
Greatly.
Several causes have recently combln-
ed TO reduce the supply Of sponges In
the American market, says the New
York Tribune. The paralysis OF all In
dustry In Cuba in consequence Of the
civil war now prevailing there Ia ono
Of them. The West Indies. Bahamas
and Florida are the principal censen Of
production In this part Of the worlil
Reckless fishing which threatens TO ex-
terminate the sponges, much az aimi-
lar proceedings do the seals on the
coast OF Alaska. Is another factor In the
situation, These facts lend peculiar
interest TO the proposition lately made
to the United States government
through It's consular agent at Mitylene.
by Greek named Charalampos Choir
/ phios. 20 establish the business OF ar
thcially cultlvaung sponges some
where on the Florida coast. II he can
get concession. A great deal has been
done In the past, under the auspices OF
the national and state fishery commits
slons. toward restocking American
lakes and rivers with trout. bass, shad
and salmon, with small fry Matched ana
nurtured under human management.
Artificial means, too, have much 10 do
with culture OF the oyster and tho
maintenance Of the supply OF that b.
valve. But the reasonablonoss Of tho
project OF Mr.. Chorphios does not rest
alone on these presidents. lchthyolog-
ical experts In Washington are said &C
have shown confidence In It's practica'
bility. They say that by taking prop
or measures the Florida sponge fisher
les could be brought TO high state Of
produetiyeness In a few years The
men already engaged In the industry
might not, however. relish this inter
ference In behalf OF the public. The
tough, soft. elastic. iibrous moss, which
Is 10 be had at the druggists, under the
name OF sponge. "a really the skeleton
which once supported a whole colony
Of ielly-like creatures which have built
up that structure. Those propagate, ma
turally. In two ways. by means oil
spores or eggs and by the formation Of
buds which eventually split on from
the mature polyp. The scientific spong'
eulturlst proceeds on a plan which utll-
izes both OF those methods. but Is like q
common practice In horticulture. HG
aimply cuts up the tenement house o.
colony into a number Of pieces. en-
ploylng a sharp knife or razor for IN,
purpose and conducting the operation
while the pulpy mass Is still under
water. lie Is also careful TO leave q
portion Of the original outer surface or
each fragment Each BIT may then b,
loaded with n email stone or other sink
or TO take Il 10 the bottom again. 4
few Of these sections fail 10 revive: hu
the great majority. after an interval oI
two or three mostha begin TO thrive ani
eventually grow 10 a considerable size
There are hundreds OF distinct spo
oies Of spongcs, but scarcely a dozof
are suited TO mans use. Il Is assorte,
that those which are obtained from
Mediterranean waters are the finest II
the world; YET the delicate "shecpl
wool" and velvet" sponges o. Florid:
are wonders Of sof;ness and beauty
And n q system Of artificial oultur'
should come into vogue these cholcl
varieties could be produced almost n
abundantly as the coaRer grades arr
now.