The Washington times., 1901-11-03
sPoNGEs IN HAWAII.
Fish Commission Regards the ISL
ands as F'Iorida's Rival.

nnds as fIOrtdn's RIVAL
Relieving that there are sponges of a
merchantable quality in the waters about
| these islands, the last week OF the stay
of the party representing the United
States Fish Commission Will be devoted
| in part to an investigation of reports
concerning their presence. Should there
be found sponges which will be fit for
| market these will aod materially to the
wealth of the islands, more, in fact, than
any other product of the fisheries
There Is one State of the Union which
now produces all the sponges which are
brought to the market locally. Along the
coast of Florida the industry has been
pushed to its limit. until the annual sails of
sponges amount to 100000 The product
sells for as high as $3.50 a pound which
makes the business most profitable. There
are sixty schooners in the trade and the
business is the staple of many of the
towns along the coast Of the State. The
fishermen have brought the business to
high state of perfection, and they are eble
to make large catches in season.
The sponge fishing Is done in deep wa
ter. the best specimens of the large bath
sponges being obtained from fifty feet
below the surface They are located with
long pole carrying on its end blade like
a letter S, which cuts the sponge loose
with a twist, and it is then brought to
the surface.
There are many varieties of the sponge
those which are generally found about the
irclosed waters being of sort which are
not of value. 1t is the opinion of Mr..
Cehh. who is one of the experts of the
Fish Commission on this matteer, that
good sponges will be found on the reefs
outside, and that in time, and a short
time. fnr the organization of this industry
will not be an elaborate transaction, there
will be one of the most profitable Of sea
product industries inaugurated.
Reports have come to the members of
the party that high-grade sponges have
been found at Punaluu and other points
on the Kau coast Some small specimens
have been seen which are of the finest
grade Of the satin sponge. and the belief
is expressed that there will be found
great supply of the valuable growths
The Fish Commission steamer Albatross
will arrive here, according to the present
plans, about December l. The ship will
be used TO make the deep sea soundings
and dredgings, and will spend the entire
winter here. 1t is expected that there
large shipment of black bass fry. This
fish is always planted in the fall, and
there is good reason to believe that the
necessary arrangements will be made for
a shipment as soon as Mr.. Cobb returns
to Washington.
This fish will be recommended by Mr..
Cobb to replace the trout which were
placed in the rivers several years ago.
The trour Were not success, as there is
not sufficient cold water for them to
thrive. The bass will live in any stream,
being indigenous TO almost all the Ameri-
can streams.
The plan will be 10 place this fish in the
Waimea River on Kauai and the rivers on
Hawaii. where it viii be given chance to
develop. There will be no attempt made
to bring any great number of high-grade
fish here, for fresh and salt water, for the
reason that the rivers are not long
enough. Thus the salmon or the cod
would not find sufficiently clear water
and distance from the sea for spawning.
The outlook is that mullet will be taken
from here for planting in waters of the
mainland rather than any fish brought
here. The mullet here is said to be OF
high grade. more perfect in flavor and size
than the Florida mullet-Hawaiian Ga
zette.