The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1896-04-03
SPONGE GARDENING.
PROFITABLE SEA FARMS ALONG THE
FLORIDA COAST.

Concerning an Article OF Utnity-AssIst-
anco Rendered the Indastry by the Gov-
ernnl-nt'. Fish Commission.
Ever since the sponge fisheries Of the
Bahamas s..;d the gulf coast of Florida
showed signs OF becoming exhausted ef-
forts have been made to cultivate sp1nges
ON farms or artificial beds. and more re-
I Gently science has tried TO initiate the
| genuine article by converting the snft
Z GbCr of the cocoanut leaves and shells
into spolgcs Of commercial value
I Sponge farming Is now n successful in
7 duSiry. and hundreds 81 acres in the gulf
/ of Mexico along the Florida coast are
I planted with sponge cuttings" and
seed-i The work is not dissimilar in
many respects % oyster culture. The
\ young srnnGcs are planted in water
along the colst varying frOIn one 20 five
fathoms in depth.
A few years ago the fish commits
siuners had their attention called to the
sponge fisheries OF 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 sume way Of preserving
them The Epccimels Of sponge taken to
Washington in the autumn II the year
We're found TO be reproductive II the
proper conditions were supplied. The
spanges in the autumn were found 20 de-
yc,op masses Of pr1toplasm or spores.
which in the spring II the year were lib
erate,l These spores contained the small
reproductive PARTICLES from which the
sponges developed Some Of the s,lougcs
experimental with did not reproduce
their kind at all. and IL was found that
in order 10 cultivate the spnugcs il was
necessary 10 plant sporgcs that pro-
duccd certain cells that contained the
ova or cgg and others that rcpresented
srerm&tOsnI-
A small sponge farm was established
mt Washington. and then Ctl.r-s along
the Florida coast as experiments These
proved sicc,sSful. 50 that private imdi.
viduals wen; into the business There
are many rcres q sponge farms near
kcy West, and others at Anclotc. Fla
and near Tampa These farms wcrc first
supplied with their seeds from the fish
commissioners. but now they are OBJ
In the ausumn Of the year the various
kinds of Sqouges are purchased by the
sponge culturiSt. who generally takes an
assortment that Is sure 10 supply him
with both tire male and female cells
The beds. or farms. are usually locat-
ed at some well protected place aloug
the coast and fenced in with natural for
nations and artificial dams Tho sponge
seeds are kept in small pounds 30
through the winter. where the masses u
: protoplasm develop and gruw. Esrly in
the spring these spores urc liberated in
, the larger budy of water. where they
, Soun swim around Tho eggs continue 10
grow rapidly. and in n short time attach
themselves o. the rocks or cural f1rma-
} tiun at the b1ttosl az tine water
IL Is very difficult TO yet the righ,
! location for an ideal sponge bcd An
. arm II the SEA where the salt waite
, flows IN freely That has a natural haul
bpttun Is the lest. Rocks. stones and
) other substances can bc dropped at tie
bottom for the spunges to fastcn them
, selves to- The hgoJn is thea damme,.
1 up. so that when the sccd Is put IN fresh
il cannot float cut 70 SEA again. S1ms
Simply NMAhM AAAtHAA NlFAAAAetm AAA ~AAAAA u
= lagoon in tine fall II the year and let the
S prutoplasm develop there. Under proper
5 cultivation the spungcs thus raised ar,
superior to those found in the SEA Only
{ the best varieties arr propagated Tie
g "shcCpswool'' Is the choicest. with a tex
ture fine. soft and strong. These spun@,s
sell f,l from $3.50 10 50 pound Tire
{ yellow" sponge i next in quality, and
} its price Is much les than tho ''sheeps.
e wool " The grass" sponge raised j,
: very limited, for its value i too small
D 10 pay ono for the trouble.
: After the sponge farm ~ once started
there is little lure 20 do with IL except
at harvesting time. The Fpung,s grow
slowly and usually three years elapse b.
fore any are pulled mp. Then only the
: choicest. full grown ones are gathered
. The others are loft to produce new Seed,
. and 20 reach "A larger size. The picking
Of spnngcs IN n farm u this nature j,
, much simpler than 20 raise them from
+ the deep waters uf the gulf Armed Will
: a long loaded pole n boatman can easily
D haul up the spougcs that he needs. ant
u in the course of a day lac could gathci
I three times the quantity pulled up by
o the regular sponge fishermen OF th'
!. coast The water Is comparatively shal
low over the artificial beds. and not dis
: turbed by tides. foating debris or winds
u Il Is also very clear and pellucid. 80 tina
z OEe can see the bottom for luiia dis
E tance down Occasionally one finds
{ sponge farm where deep sea sponges ar
b cultivated. and il j. necessary. then. q
have a diver to gather them Here again
! the work is made easier. The diver run
a no risk from sharks, tides or other in
: convenienoes that daily beset those of
e the cusust.
u The value Of the sponge farm increase