The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1904-09-14
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FLORIDA SPONGE.
Is Becoming Great Industry In That
State.


Few persons not directly connected
with the sponge industry are apt to
realize the growing importance which
this product has assumed at Tarpon
Springs, but II Is fact, nevertheless,
that from Insignificant proportions ten
years ago the business here has leaped
forward, until now 1t Is the leading
centre of the sponge business in the
United States and the Western Hcmi.
sphere.
The sponging grounds. other than
those of Key West, extend from An
clote Keys, few miles from Tarpon
Springs, to Apalachce Bay, and the
best sponges are secured from ten to
thirty miles off shore, in from thirty
to forty feet of water. The sponge in
dustry of Tarpon Springs dates back
about twelve years, when the Anclote
and Rock Island Company sent out two
small vessels to the sponge grounds.
The business grew rapidly; other indiv-
iduals secured boats and crews to man
them, until today more than $50 ves-
sells are engaged here, giving employ
ment to probably 1000 men, who, for
six or eight months in the year, prac-
tically live on their vessels; at other
times residing at Anclote, at the
sponge kraals near Anclote and at Tar
pom Springs. Few of the boats are
owned by the people who handle them.
The owners of the vessels employ the
crews, supply the rations and take as
n
Some owners possess number of ves-
sells, the business at times proving
quite profitable. There are two prin-
ciple seasons for sponging, the spring
or summer trip, commencing in March
and winding up in June, the fall or
winter trip dates from October to De-
cember. During the sponging trip the
vessels are at sea six days out of the
seven, usually returning Saturday to
unload and secure more ratons. The
life at best Is a hard one, with very
few pleasures.
The actual sponging is done from
| rowboats or very small vessels, the
hooker, using a three pronged rake
thirty or forty feet long, and with the
bucket with glass bottom-readily
detects and detaches sponges from the
bottom-so clear are the Gulf waters
| and so expert do the men become. The
sponges when first obtained are far
| from what we are accustomed TO see at
stores. They are full of animal matter,
and this must be allowed to die and
ha I,;a nd
finally detached-a process that re-
quires weeks.
Sponges are auctioned off to the
dealers during the season at Tarpon
Springs who represent northern houses,
and from there they are distributed
all over the country and even in Great
Britain, the Netherlands, Belgium and
France.
At the present time Tarpon Springs
produces three-quarters of the total
product of Florida sponges, other than
those secured around Key West, and
probably more than half of the whole
Florida yield. The balance of the
sponges produced are sold al Key
West.
In 1903 Key West perhaps sold 80
percent of all the sponges produced
in this country, the total Florida pro-
due being 100000 pounds, with val
uation of s4S3,O00. In 1896 the pro-
duct was $4,000 pounds, valued at
$273,000 In 1899 the product was 9S7,-
900 pounds. in 1900, 567 900 pounds.
Since then the yield has decreased. but
| the average total value has remained
the same. The number of pounds of
sponges produced any year is not'a fair
criterion of the value of the sponges
that year as compared with many other
years, for some sponges are worth
many times what others are worth,
and some years are prolific of cheaper
class. of sponges; but on the whole,
sponges have steadily increased in
value. Thus, sleeps wool (the highest
class of sponges). prices for the past
few years were as follows:
In 1895, price per pound, sl.57; 1896,
s1.67; 1899, $216; 1900, S2,67; 1901,
$L67; 1902, $3.50; and at the present
time they are worth nearly 81 per
pound.-Tarpon Springs (Fla.). News.