Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1907-02-09
GATHERING SPONGES AMONG
FLORIDA'S KEYS AND REEFS
Simple Methods Which Are Found to Give Better Re-
suits Than DlVing-UnquO Auction Sales at Which
Bids Are Made In Writing by WOuld-b0 Purchasers

The sponge beds in Florida COM
prise what are locally known as the
key grounds" and the bay
grounds" writes the Key West corre-
spondent of the New York Times.
The former extend from Key West
eastward and northeastward at least
as far as Cape Florida. In this re-
gion the sponges are found in the
shallow water among the keys and
along the reefs. The bay grounds
are in the Gulf of Mexico, and extend
from Johns Pass, a short distance
above the entrance to Tampa Bay, to
Appalachee Bay. A few sponges are
also found in the Gulf south Of
Tampa Bay, but not in quantities suf-
ficient to warrant working. The
finest sponges come from the "bay
grounds"
On the key grounds" the fishery
is mainly prosecuted with small
sloop-rigged vessels OF about five tons
burden. AS this fishery is carried on
between the keys and the mainland,
whore ample shelter is found from
storms, small vessels can be used
with perfect safety. In the "bay"
fishery larger vessels, averaging
about thirteen tons, are used. The
larger vessels carry from five to thir-
teen men, and the smaller ones from
three to five, the number nearly al
ways being odd. The sponging itself
is carried on from small dinghies, in
which two men always work together.
Simple Apparatus Used.
The sponging apparatus is exceed
ingly simple, consisting merely Of
three-toothed hooks attached to poles
Of varying lengths to suit the differ
ent depths of water, and the sponge
glass, an ordinary water bucket with
the bottom knocked out and a pane
of window glass substituted.
When working the man who does
the gathering is called the hooker"
while the one who maneuvres the
boat is called the "sculler." The
former is always in charge. When
the hooker" thinks favorable place
has been reached he gets down on his
knees, and, leaning his breast on the
gunwale, he places the sponge glass
on the surface. He then inserts his
head in the upper portion Of it, and
is thus enabled to see the bottom dis
tinctly, even though the surface
should be covered with ripples.
When he perceives a good sponge
he signals the sculler in what direc-
ton to send the boat, and when he
gets over it he inserts the hook I'M
der the sponge and by dexterous
twist tears it loose and pulls it to
the surface. This looks very simple
until one tries it and sees what a
bungle an amateur can make of 1t.
AS many of the sponges are gathered
in depths of thirty feet or more, it
requi es practiced eye and hand to
derneath sponge which is probably
not more than four to ten inches in
diameter. Great care must be taken
not to let the sponge work loose from
the hook, as in that event it would
be impossible to recover it. Sponges
which have so escaped follow roll
ing, or rowing life henceforth, and are
called rolling Johns"
1t is always very necessary that
the hooker" should be able to dis
tinguish between the different vari-
cites of sponges before hooking them,
as otherwise he would be likely to
gather many worthless sponges
which, to the uninitiated, look to be
much better than the ones he brings
up.
When a boatload has been secured
a visit is made to the vessel, when
the sponges are laid out ON the deck
in an upright position, SO as to al
low the animal to die and the
curry" or Shiny matter with which
the sponge is coated, to run off. At
this time the sponges have very re-
pulsive appearance and strong am
moniacal smell which is very often
sive at first.
Handling and Curing.
In order to handle and cure the
sponGes properly the spongers have
built in the water at various places
along the coast small square inclos-
ures of waited stakes, called
"kraals." On the "bay grounds"
these are mostly in two groups near
Anciote. This is so each group can.
be easily watched by one man. The
spongers usually return to these
"kraals" on Friday evening, when
the weeks catch is placed in them.
In the meantime the previous weeks
catch has been soaking in the
"kraal." These are then removed
and thoroughly beaten, while wet,
with q short paddle in order to get
rid of the decomposed animal matter.
sponges and they are strung on short
strings, care being taken to have
sponges Of similar grade on the
same string.
When the vessels trip has been
completed the crew gather together
her sponges and return to the home
port. The method followed in dis
posing Of the sponges is unique. At
Tarpon Springs and Key West are
situated >the buyers, who represent
New York, Philadelphia and st. Louis
wholesale sponge houses. Sales are
held at Key West each afternoon ex-
cept on Saturday and Sunday, while
at Tarpon Springs the sales are in the
morning generally.
For few hours before the begin
ming of the sale the buyers are per-
mitted to inspect the various piles Of
sponges and count them, but are not
allowed to weigh them. At the sound
of the opening gong the auotioneer
takes his place in front Of the first
pile and announces the number of
punches in it. The buyers then write
on slips of paper the sum they are
willing to give per bunch for the pile.
These are handed to the auc-
tioneer, who lays them face down on
4.