The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1906-04-01
History of the Sponge
Industry ON East Coast
Tampa Herald.

Recent evnts in relation to the
sponge fishing in Florida waters have
attracted considerable attention, com
plant having been made that the
Greek divers were doing a great deal
Of damage to the fishing grounds.
The matter was called to the atten-
lion of the governor and he ordered
the sheriff of the counties interested
10 see that the law was not violated.
The matter was also called to the
attention of the Florida delegation in
congress and senator Taliferro intro
ruced a bill prohibiting diving foE
sponges.
All Of these events attracted public
attention to the industry and much
has recently been said about it in
print.
A recent issue of the Times Union
contained an article from Mr.. w. w.
K. Decker, of the west coast of this
county, in regard to the matter and it
is printed below for the information
Of those who are interested in the mat
ter. The letter is as follows:
Having noted several prejudicial al
lUsions by your Key West correspon-
dent regarding the Greek sponge div
ers who are plying their ayOcation in
the waters Of the gulf, with Tarpon
Springs as the base of their opera
tons, think it an OppOrtune time to
tender the public a partial statement,
correct in "Details, Of the past and
present history Of the sponge bust.
ness, by one familiar with the condi-
tons as they have existed for per-
iod Of fifteen years.
For many years sending out fleet
of vessels to the sponging grounds was
conducted solely by Key West par
ties, and the northern dealers in this
community, either sent or kept their
representatives there to buy the prod
uct as it was brought to market by
the fishermen, but about the year 1890
a company was organized at TarpOn
Springs to send out a fleet of vessels
and also purchase sponges and
through the competition thus engen-
dered the dealers were forced to place
agents here and gradually this has be-
come the strongest market. For sew
eral years past fully 80 per cent. OF
the catch Of Rock Island sleeps wool
and AnclOte grass, and yellow sponges
or to be more explicit, sponges found
north Of Egmont Key, have been sold
here, while the Key goods taken from
the waters between the islands near
the southern end of the state have
continued to find their market at Key
West owing to its proximity to those
grounds.
Methods IN Vogue.
The method in vogue for catching
spOnges was by use of pole with a
three-pronged hook attached to one
end, and as fairlycalm weather and
clear water was requisite to the sue
cess Of this mode, the principal part
of the fishermen's work was done in
water ranging from fifteen to thirty
feet in depth, although under favor
able circumstances they sometimes
fshed in about fifty feet Of water.
Owing to the persistent working of
the sponge beds in the localities
where their method could be employ
ed, by a constantly increasing num-
Der of men these grounds became less
prolific until through scarcity Of the
goods taken. and the keen competition
among the dealers prices advanced
to more than double. The jobber find
ing the retailers would not pay twice
the prices formerly charged, adulterat-
ing or loading" was resorted to for
the purpose OF decreasing the price
per pound. This only ostensibly re-
duced the price and the consumer ac-
tually received but half as much
sponge for his money as when the
goods were sold pure. The fishermen
engaged in the business under the old
method Of which there have been
about one thousand, have been nearly
equally divided as regards color, and
at least sixty per cent have been
hailing from Bahama Islands.
While a considerable number are in
tellfgent and honorable, certain pro
portion are ignorant and the morals
Of many are not above criticism. OBJ