The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1896-05-29
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 e.
forts have been made 10 cultivate sponfgss
ON farms or artificial beds, and more re-
Gently science has tried TO initiate the
genuine article by converting the soft
fiber Of the cocoanut leaves and shells
into sponges Of commercial value.
Sponge farming is now n successful in
dustry, and hundreds Of acres in the gulf
Of Mexico along the Florida coast are
planted with sponge cuttings" and
seeds Tho work is not diSsimilar in
many respects TO oyster culture. The
young sp0nges are planted in water
along the coast varying from one to FIVE
fathoms in depth.
A few years ago the fish commits
I siOners had their attention called TO the
l sponge fisheries OFT the Florida coast.
and after finding that tho beds were be-
/ ing rapidly depleted Cf the best stock.
an examination of the fisheries was made
to ascertain some way Of preserving
them The specimens Of sponge taken 20
Washington in tho autumn of the year
wera found to be reproductive IL the
proper conditions were supplied Tbs
/ sponges IN the autumn We're found to de-
velop masses Of protoplasm or spores.
which in the spring Of the year were lib
erated- These spores contained the small
reproductive PARTICLES from which the
sponges developed. Somo OF tho spungcs
experimental with did not reproduce
their kind It all. and il was found that
in order 70 cultivate the sponges il was
necessary to plant sponges that pr.
duced certain cells that contained Il
ova or egg and others that rCpreSeE'ea
spermatOzoa-
A small sponge farm was established
at Washington, and then others alont
the Florida coast rs experiments. Thee
proved successful, 80 that private indi-
viduals went into the business There
are many acres uf sponge farms nc1r
Key West. and others at Anclote. Fla.
and near Tampa These farms wcre first
supplied with their seeds from the fish
commissioners. but now they arc OBJ
tanned direct from tho sponge fisheries
In the ansumn II tho year the vlrinus
kinds uf spungcs are purchased by the
sponge culturiSt. who generally takes un
assortment that Is sssre 10 supply him
with both the male and female cells
The beds. or farms. are usually loS.st-
ed at somc well projected place along
the coast ami feuccd in with natural fcg
nations and artificial dams The sponge
, seeds arc kept in small "pJunds'
through the winter. where the MASSES u
, prOtupl.s>m develop and i;ruv-. Early in
the spring these spores arc liberated w
. the larger body uf water. where t,...
, soon SWIM around The eggs cuntinue o.
, grow rapidly, and in a short time attach
, themselves % the racks ur cural form.
, tion at the bottom - the water.
Ii Is very difficult 20 get the ri-l.'
location for an ideal sponge hcd An
arm II TIE scl where the s.slt watci
= flows in freely that has a natural ha1.
7 bottom l. the best. Rocks. stones and
. other substances can b. drUppcd at a.,
4 buttum for the spuneee, tu f.t>ten them.
d selves Ca. The lagoun j. then damned
mp. - that when the sccd Is put in frCh
e il cannot float cut TO SEA again. Some
{ simply throw their spongcs in such q
o lagoon in the fall of the year and let jhs
!. prutoplasm develop there. Under proper
}. cultivation the spouges thus raised art
b superior to those found in the SEA. Only
e the best varieties are propagatcd TE6
q "sheepswool' Is the choicest. with a tex
Z, ture fine. soft and strong. These spOnges
d sell for from $50 TO 81 pound Th,
i yellow" sponge Is next i'm quality. and
Z its price Is much less than tine Sleeps
}, wool - The "grslss" sponge RAISED !,
e very limited. for its value is too small
5 20 pay one for the trouble.
After the sponge farm Is once started
there is little iore to do with il except
at harvesting time The fl,onges grow
e slowly and usually three years clapse b.
II fore any are pulled mp. Then only th'
h choicest. full grOwn ones are gathered
The others are left to produce new seed
s and TO reach larger size The picking
u of sponges in firm Of this nature Il
% much simpler than 20 raise them from
e the deep waters 0f the gulf. Armed witt
n a long leaded pole buatman can easily
It haul mp the spongcs that he needs. an,
n in the course Of a day be could gathe
" three times the quantity pulled mp b!
d the regular sponge fishermen OF tin
y coast. Tho water is comparatively shal
low over the artificial beds. and not dis
turbed by tides, floating debris OF winds
lt is also very clear and pellucid. 80 tina
J. ole can see the bottom for long dis
tance dOwu Occasionally one finds
n sponge farm where deep sea spongcs ar
I'd cultivated. and IL is necessary. then. &
= have Il diver 10 gather them Here agail
the work is made easier. The diver run
40 risk from sharks. tides or other in
conyeniences that daily beset those OF
the coast
The value ~ the sponge farm increase
r. every year despite the annual harves
= that II taken theTefrOm. The neN
= spongcs are spreading until every squar
= inch Of the bottom and sides OF the pom