BoletiÌn mercantil de Puerto Rico. (San Juan, P.R.) 18??-1918, 1902-01-19

/ .
Indies, the Caribbean Sea, Florida and from
islands In the Mediterranean. Tue fact
that a new supply has been found is CON.
sidered important, as heretofore the de.
maud has been greater than the supply,
which has brought about stiff prices. The
sponge supply has always been thought
limited. The discovery was made by
OIL. Alton, of the First Tennessee Regi.
ment, who was stationed in the Island Of
Oebu, P. l.. at the time it was under mar.
tial law. Dol. Alton later gave the in
formation to large importing sponge
house in this city, which sent an expert
to the Philippines to examine the growth.
This agent has just returned with the re-
port that small sponges of very good quail
ity have been found along the reefs, and
there are indications that fine specimens
grow in deeper water.
The industry has never been worked by
the Philippine natives. Upon the report
of its expert the importing house is pre-.
pairing to send a number of Greek fsk.
ermen to the islands, and has obtained from
the government a permit to develop the
Industry of sponge fishing. 1t is said that
| tie firm scill not take immediate action,
owing to the disturbed conditions in the
Philippine Islands.
Bleaching Process.
The process achich sponges undergo be-.
fore being marketed has always been q
secret. From first to last it requires ex.
perts. Most of the New York houses EN-
ploy Greek labor at high prices as, it is
said, one bluuder In the bleaching might
spoil from $4,000 to $4,000 worth of
sponges. Sponges arrive at this port in
bales. In their natural dried state they
are dark and dirty, and must be bleached.
In the bleaching lies the secret. The pro-
portion of chemicals used and the length of
the bath is not known outside of the bus.
mess. There are but five or six houses in
this country familiar with the process and
practically all Of the bleaching is done in
j New York. The first bath Of the dark
sponge is in . solution Of vitriol, then a
lnar,-- 0sen wuichE Wnixiizyiz.pz.
black, the third is in soda, after Y ~ q : )
thoroughly washed and then dried ir room
with very high temperature. After it is
trimmed and sorted the sponge is ready for
packing and shipment. The higher grades
are sold N boxes while the lower are baled
by hydraulic pressure. Some New York
sponge bouses are said to carry stock
worth 100000.
Some Odd Shapes.
Spanges grow ia odd, fantastic shapes.
Some of them have an overgrowth resem-
fbling huge warts; there are some suggesting
bands, hats, figures of idols. These are Gu
riosities and not marketable for practical
use. In trimming them into shape many
am all anon 0so opa m da whioh 90 ~,,a q
children's states, for blacking shoes and To-
making paper. The uses vary according to
size.
One Of the largest spongss known is in
this city; it Is fanishape andisoms three feet
In diameter. For practical use it 10 WORTH
less, but as an exhibit it is valued at slOO.
Owing to expert labor and the 20 per cent.
duty, spOnges bring good prices.
The best sponges are imported from the |
Mediterranean, slthouth Florida produces
very fine varieties. These vary in prices. |
from 1 cent to $50 apiece, alrhou sh oceasio.
nally fne specimens bring $50 pound. The
best Of these are used N surgical operations.
Oiher sponges are the Msnaruka Bait,
the Elephant Ear, Velvet. Grass and
which 10 best for washing. The
cheap sPonges are used In washing carriages
and By painters. 4
Sponge Fishing.
The sponge 10 an animal and no. q ysgs-
able, a. some state. IL brsathss, eats, asd,
zhsn n the water, 10 filed with mucuLI
rhs spooge In lie familiar state Ia oEIy al
srcasA Spongss are known TO grow al al
lspih of 30 iset, and I've even dsspsr.
oaollfeS. A. the depth 81 ilty fset rhetf
sn b TRIED by an expert ashsr, bat a. al
rsaisr esp'A tksy mnst 30 Eos By divinx.I
'poags asasrs uss glsss b. wAisA spongssI
N - sssa gEeainx on ne batlon ThsII
's.Eumsai > II he nelnFs q . pail, sah
gl3ss he,fom sitaehed = tAs bss AZ tks
"a u e saeusrxsd. - q n sls.dy lhs I
Ites, uatca etneFutse you'd ~ eun,arssiE
J Ne wxyeA IAe water whars spsnx.s In
aw = very clear sad boliom ean ks sssa =
Ne4. tspta. 11e hoa1s af .ths spanx.-I
1is8 l.1aslry h h 0rsecs. snd esnlaSnsI
1 a hr<s pesssslsxs u lae Msdl1srr.
A.. -. -. II