Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1903-04-11
CULTURE or SP0NGES.


Considerable progress is being made
BY the United States government
through the fish commission in the ar
uaciai propagation Of sponge growth
oe Tie coast OF Tlorada. and tie state
i was made III the commissionsthe
oss.sr day that so successful has the
culture been that within e few years
tie TnIted states will produce al the
Spon1 consumed here. with a balance
left ever for tie export trade, says the
Washington lost AZ the present time
tbs So nsa supply is far below the de-
mani aaa tie United States imports
most sc tlose required.
Tbs experiments have been conduct
60 Tor some time PAST under the dlrec-
ton Of i5r. Ii. Il. Moore. assistant com
mi sslorer OF fish and fisheries. who has
devoted considerable hard work and
attention 10 the matter. Tie actual
work Of planting sponges In the waters
of Tie Florida coast is now being con
Quoted under the supervision of Cap
tain James A. smith of the Fish Hawk.
This vessel. now h Florida. viii return
10 Washington Mt the close of its pres
ent cruise, about April 10, with a large
number of specimens and considerable
data. The work accomplished by the
experts Of the fish bureau has been
unique. but success apparently has
crowned the efforts Of the commission,
and two sponges win be made to grow
where only one could find lodging place
besore.
The sponges used in the propagation
are the sheepshead variety. the most
valuable and desirable sponge grown
ia the world and one which fills prac-
tically every commercial necessity. The
method used IN planting them on the
coTal reefs and rocks of the tropical
waters Of the Florida coast has been
evolved after many failures by DR..
Moore. who has al last hit upon a way
ont of the difficulties which flied the
path Of the commission when 1t first
undertook the work.
IN planting the sponges," said DR..
Moore, VI have now found a scheme
which has proved satisfactory. The
sponges are cut into small pieces from
one to two inches In diameter. These
small fragments Of the living sponge,
which are dark in color, with the pores
noticed in the cured sponge of COM
merce flied by fieshy matter, are firm
~ fastened to pieces of coral, rock and
terra Gotta brick and dropped over
board, the work being done on board
the fish commission vessel.
Thin aluminium wire is used to DO
this, and in hitting upon this wire we
solved the difficulty. The pieces OF
sponge used have n outer skin intact,
with the other edges raw. The latter,
however, quickly heal. The aluminium
wire viii. OF course. pierce the sponge
and forms n small bore or hole through
them. The wire corrodes. but this is
an advantage. for it. gradually wears
away. leaving the sponge free of any
foreign substance.
Most of the difficulties attending
the culture have been met with in at
tempting to find something TO. bind the
sponges to the rocks which would last
long enough for the sponges to attach
themselves naturally TO the new bed.
The aluminium wire does this. Wood,
| string, copper and iron wire and vari-
Gus other substances we found were at
tackled by the salt water and animal
life and rendered useless.
'The experiments are being conduct
ed at Biscaype bay. Anclote keys and
off Key West. The dealers are partly
responsible for the poor condition of
the domestic sponge market. The fish
ermen take all sponges caught oil their
hooks. large and small. on the principle
that if they don't some ono else viii,
and the result is that the industry Is
ruined The commission Is doing this
work only TO show the proper way to
promote the sponge industry. and the
WORK Is similar TO that lone in the
| propagation and culture of the oyster.
We will demonstrate the method to the
dealers and then let private enterprise
take the matter up.
'sThere is every reason 10 believe that
this will be done and that In a compar.
atively short time aid the sponges need.
ed in the United States viii be raised
In the waters or Florida"