Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1896-09-25
OCEAN TENEMENTS.
SPONGES ARE HIVES OF INDUSTRY,
WITH STREETS AND ALLEYS.


ture In Florida waters-Opposition of .
Fishermen.
The department of state at Washington |
has received through the consular agent |
at Mytilene u communication from Char /
alampos Chorphios, who calls himself n |
merchant and fisherman of sponges
This Greek gentleman desires to obtain n
concession which shall enable him to prop
agate sponges in the waters of Florida.
He understands the artificial culture of
these animals, and he proposes to bring
with him skilled men and special ma
chinery. Incidentally he is willing to in
struct American citizens in the art of
propagating spongcs, which he believes
will tend to the development of the pub
lie richness -
1. is his opinion that the waters of Flor
ida can be made to supply the world with
spongcs. He offers to pay into the treas
ury 10 rcr cert of the proceeds of his in
dustry during 20 years, at the end Of which
time ne win turn over to the government
all his machinery, bouts, etc.
For many - ars rcet IT has been realized
that something oHrit to re done in the
WAY Of sponge c"l'urc i'm llcrida waters.
The natural suIlly of these animals is di-
minislinp 1t AN alr:HiuH r.'o. "Niug to
everlasting. In tlot, 3eF nrC Tca nigh
threatened with c,t'" ,r-ti2n.
Being stati"naryard ircarnble of Fight,
they aye 1.llcd out by sumo larA.d sl1u@l.-
ter Tic cyl is not icFord l'1 ~ inas-
much as suon. -cst.n I've propi.:.tod almost
as easily as oysters. buo "a scgmH"ly 10
surmount-hlc obstacle is presented - the
professional iis'cr.icn. who viii rnt toll b.
ate grants Of ua,i"c irc'.s Fl r tAc rpu-c
of such cul1crc. They So tha- Grants Of
the Kind would s0cn place inc fishery in
/ the hands of monopolists.
These toilor5 of the sca are determined
to defend their means of livelihood to the
uttermost. They are the sort Of men who
/ shoot ON occasion, and the lelst they
would 90 would he to destroy the boats
and other am aratus of any scientific
sponge farmer who attempted to invade
what they consider their territory.
Furthermore, they profess the convic-
ton that the artificial propagation of
sponacs is wholly impracticublc I'm this
idca they are wrong if any faith it. to re
Put in the experts of the nitcd states
fish commission, who claim to have proved
their theories by careful experiments.
They assert that if proper measures were
taken the sponge fishery of Florida could
he restored to the highest lruductivcncss
within few years Unqucstionably a
considerable appropriation of money would
be required. hu6 il woUld be tri1ing cqm-
pared with the cash value of the augment
ed crop.
The siu.rc rcproduccs its species by
means Of euare.. corresponding to eggs,
which are ,ct free in the water After be-
ing Matched the young ones swim about
for awhile. eventually attaching them
selves to a rock or other object.
The mature sponge also produces little
buds. which detuch themselves from the
parent and float away to begin life OF
their own account. The scientific cultur
list. however, makes use of neither of thesC
natural processes.
The method be adopts is extremely sim
ple. though recurring care and skill Tray
cling over the ii-hing grounds in Il boat