The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-12-23
OCEAN TENElIENI,s.
GPoNeES ARE HIVES OF INDUSTRY.
WITH STREETS AND ALLEYS.

| ferpetuRte VG,eir Spcctos-Artificlal Cul
turo In Florida waters-Opposition O
Firhormen.
The department OF state at Washington
ms received through tho consular agent
at Mytilene u communication from Char
aiamros Chorphios, who calls himself =
merchant and fisherman Of sponges. :,
This Greek gentleman desires to obtain a
concession which shall enable him to prop.
agate sponges in the waters of Florida.
lie understands tic artificial culture OF
these animals, and ho proposes to bring
with him skilled men and spccial mn
cnincry. Incidentally ho is willing to in
struct American citizens in the art of
propagatiny sponEcs, which he believes
will tend To tie development of the pub
lie richness
1t is his opinion that tho waters of Flor
Ida can lie made to supply the world with
sponges. He cifcrs TO pay into the treas
ury 10 per cent of the proceeds of his in
dustry during 20 years, mt tho end Of which
time he will turn over to tho government
all his machinery boats, etc.
For many years past it has been realized
that something ought to be dono in the
way Of sponge culture in Florida watcrs
The natural supply of these animals is di-
minishing ut an alarming r;ltc owing to
everlasting. In fact, they are we'll nigh
threatened with determination.
Bcing stationary and Incapable of fight.
they are wiped out by sure handed slaugh-
ter The evil Is not beyond repnir, mas.
much as spongcs can be propagatcd almost
ms easily as oysters, but seemingly in.
surmountahlc obstacle is presented by the
professional fishermen, who will not tolcr-
ato grants of marine areas for the purpose
OF such culture. They say that grants of
tho Kind would soon place the fishery in
tho hands of monopolists.
These toilcrs of I G sea are determined
to defend their means Of livelihood to tho
uttermost. They arc tho sort of men who
shoot on occasion, and tho least they
would do would 10 to destroy the boats
ana other apparatus of any scientific
sponge farmer who attempted to invade
what they conGider their territory.
Furthermore, They profess the convic-
ton that the artificial propagation of
spongcs is wholly impracticablc. In this
idea they arc wrong, if any faith Is to be
put III the experts OF the United States
fish comm isson, who claim to have proved
their theories by careful experiments.
They assert that if proper measures were
taken the sponge fishery Of Florida could
be restored TO tho highest productivencss
within n few years. Unquestionably a
considerable appropriation of money would
be required, but it would DO trifling com
pared with the cash value Of the augment.
ed crops
Tho sponge reproduces its species by
means of spores, corresponding to eggs.
which are set FREQ in the water. After he.
ing hatchcd the young ones swim about
Tor awhile, eventually attaching them
selves to q rock OF other object
Tho mature sponge also produces little
buds, which detach themselves from the
parent ard noat away to begin life on
their own account Tho scientific cultur-
ist, however, makes uso of neither of these
natural processes
Tho method he adopts is extremely sim.
pie, though requiring care and skill. TRAY
cling over the fishing grounds in a boat,
he pulls the sponges to the surface with a
hook on tho end OF long pole The fresh
~ tackled sponge is not taken out of the
water, but is held beneath the surface
while the operator cuts it into pieces.
Iho knife used Is rs sharp as n razor, SO
That rs little injury as possible shall he
done to the tissues of the sponge. Tho ami
mai Is cut up in such manner that coch
piece shall retain a part Of tho original cy-
tcrnal surface Finally, each fragment is
fastened to bit Of stone by wire, and is
then dropped to the bottom.
In shoal water an easier and Drefernh,o
method is to thrust q small splintor NJ
wood through each fragment and stick IL
into the bottom. In this way a number
oil spongcs are made out of single sponpo
Some of the fragmcntary ones die, but the
great majority of them survive. For tbrcc
or four months they seem to be sicklv. hut,
ut the end OF that time they recover and
begin to grow with surprising rap;dity.
The planting must always be done wbero
the sponges will not be rolled about by III,
waves '0
Ihere are thousands Of species of snonrcs.
put only half dozen have any CONNER.
clal value. There used to he much dispute
us 10 whether these creatures were animal
or vegetable, but science has decided Thorn
TO belong to the former kingdom. bcino
very low down and degraded relatives Of
the corals.
Inc TACT is that sponge, like tho coral.
Is colony OF little animals whic., occunv
sort OF apartment house together. The
animals are called ''polyps," and, each Of
them being both male and female. every
Individual In the community is in n posi-
ton to rear family on its own hook Tho
sponge In nature is flcsliy and somewhat
lellyliko body. Only the skeleton flynrns
III commerce. The commercial sponrca
have horny skeletons, but there are cvcr
10 many species which haye glassliko or
limy frames. 'i
The next time you use n sponge eromino
1t, and you will And that the surface ia COW.
hn1nS