The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1896-02-07
SPONGE GARDENING.
PROFITABLE SEA FARMS ALONG THE
FLORIDA COAST.

Ever since the sponge fisheries Of the
Bahamas and the gulf coast Of Florida
showed signs Of becoming exhausted ef-
forts have been made to cultivate spongcs
ON farms or artificial beds. and more re-
Gently science has tried TO initiate the
genuine article by converting the soft
fiber of tho cocoanut leaves and shells
into sponges Of commercial value.
Sponge farming is now a 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 to oyster culture. The
young sponges are planted in water
along the coast varying from ole TO five
fathoms in depth
A few years ago the fish commits
siOners had their attention called to the
sponge fisheries of tho Florida coast,
and after finding that the beds were -
ing rapidly depleted Of the best stock,
an examination Of the fisheries was made
to ascertain some way Of preserving
them The specimens Of sponge taken to
Washington in the autumn of the wear
were found to be reproductive IL tie
proper conditions were supplied. Ths
sponges in tho autumn were 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 the spmccs
experimental with did not reproduce
their kind at all. and il was found that
IN order TO cultivate the sponges il was
necessary 10 plant spOngcs that pro-
duced certain cells that contained the
Ova or egg and others that represented
spermatozoa-
A small sponge farm was established
az Washington. and then others along
the Florida cuast as experiments. These
proved successful, 50 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 autumn uf the year the various
kinds Of S7onges are purchased by the
sponge culturist, who generally takes IN
assortment that Is sure 70 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 arc kept in small ''pounds''
through tho winter. where tho masses u
prOtOplaSln 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 10
grow rapidly, and in a short time attach
themselves 20 the rocks or cural forma-
tiOn at the bottom Of the water.
II is very difficult TO get the right
location for un 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 subst2nces can be dropped nc the
bottom for the spOnges 20 fastcn them
selves 10. The lagoon is then damned
mp, 20 that when the seed is put in fresh
il cannot float out 20 sea again. Some
simply throw their sponges in such a
lagoon in the fall OF the year and let the
prUtOplasln develop there. Under proper
cultivation the spOnges thus raised are
superior to those found in the sea Only
the bost varieties are prupagated The
"sheepswool' is the choicest, with q tex
ture fine. soft and strong. These sponges
sell for from 81. so TO S3 a pound The
yellow" sponge is next in quality, and
its price is much less tlan the "sheeps-
wool " Tho grass" sponge raised IL
very hmlte,i. for its value is too small
20 pay one for the trouble.
After the sponge farm ~ once started
there Is little lore 20 do with IL except
at harvesting time. The fponges grow
slowly and usually three years elapse BE-
fore any are pulled mp. Then only the
choicest. full grUwn ones are gathered
The others are left 10 produce new seeds
and 20 reach a larger size. The picking
OF sponges in farm Of this nature Is
much simpler than TO raise them from
the deep waters Of the gulf Armed with
n long leaded pole a boatman can easily
haul up the sponges that he needs. and
in the course Of day he could gather
three times the quantity pulled up by
the regular sponge fishermen of tine
coast. The water is comparatively shall
low over the artificial beds. and not dis
turbed by tides, floating debris or winds
II is also very clear and pellncid, s- that
ole can see the bottom for ioi.., lis
tance down Occasionally ore inds a
sponge farm where deep sea spongcs ars
cultivated. and il is necessary then. TO
have a diver TO gather them Here again
the work is made easier. The diver runs
no risk from sharks, tides or other in
eonveniences that daily beset those OF
the coast.
The value Of the sponge farm increases
every year despite the annual harvest
that is taken therefrom- The new
sponges arc spreading until every square