The record-union., 1896-12-06
ARTIFICIAL SPONGE CULTURE.
A Proposition Has Been Made to In
crease the Supply Greatly.

Several causes have recently COM
bined to reduce the supply of sponges in
the American market. The paralysis Of
all industry in Cuba in consequence of
the civil war now prevailing there is one
of them, according TO the New York
Tribune. The West Indies, Bahamas.
and Florida are the principal centerS of
productions in this part of the world.
Reckless fishing, which threatens to ex-
terminate the sponges, much as similar
proceedings do the seals off the coast
of Alaska, is another factor in the situ-
alton. These facts lend peculiar inter-
est to the proposition lately made to the
United States Government, through its
Consular Agent at Mftylene. by a Greek
named Charalampos Chorphios, to es-
tablish the business of artificiaily cul-
tivaung sponges somewhere on the
Florida coast, if he can get conces-
sion. A great deal has been done in the
past, under the auspices of the National
and State Fishery Commission, toward
restocking American lakes and rivers
with trout, bass, shad and salmon, with
small fry Matched and nurtured under
human management. Artificial means,
too, have much to do with the culture OF
the oyster and the maintenance of the
supply of that bivalve. But the rea-
sonableness of the project of Mr. Choir
phios does not rest alone on these prece-
dents. Ichthyologieal experts in WASH
ington are said to have shown conf
dence in its practicability. They say
that by taking proper measures the
Florida sponge fisheries could be
brought to a high state of productive
ness in few years. The men already
engaged in the industry might not how
ever, relish this interference in behalf Of
the public.
The tough, soft, elastic, fibrous moss
which is TO be had at the druggists un-
der the name of sponge is really the
skeleton Which once supported a whole
colony of jelly-like creatures which
have built up that structure. These
propagate, naturally, in two ways, by
means of spore or eggs, and by the for
nation of buds which eventually split
off from the mature polyp. The scien-
tific sponge culturist proceeds on a
plan which utilizes both of these meth
DDS, but is like a common practice in
horticulture. He simply cuts up the
tSi1SulclIl IiOuSG OI colony INTO num-
Der of pieces, employing a sharp knife
or razor for the purpose, and conduct
ing the operation while the pulpy mass
is still under water. He is also careful
to leave a portion of the original outer
surface on each fragment Each bit
may then be loaded with small stone
or other sinker TO take it to the bottom
again. A few of these sections fail to
revive, but the great majority, after an
interval of two or three months, begin
to thrive and eventually grow to a. con-
siderable size.
There are hundreds of distinct species
OF sponges, but scarcely a dozen are
suited to mans use. It is asserted that
those which are obtained from the Medi
terranean waters are the finest in the
world; yet the delicate Sleeps WOOL
and velvet sponges of Florida. are
wonders of softness and beauty. And
II system of artificial culture should
come into vogue these choice varieties
could be produced almost as abundantlv
as the coarser grades are now.