Omaha daily bee., 1909-04-17

are rapidly replacing those Of tho Ameri-
can merchants who formerly did business
here. At the rate that the Greeks are
coming Il il a question OF but a short
time before they will control the town alb
s~olutely.
Invaders Gain Control.
Key West soon felt the effects Of the
new competition and vessel after vessel
was withdrawn from the fishery, or else
sold to the Greeks. until now the Key
West fleet numbers less than one-half
what Il did in 1919. II was soon discov-
cred that the Greek divers. instead Of
going out into the deep waters which
were inaccessible TO the hookers, preferred
TO frequent the shallow waters worked
by the hookers. where the sponges we're
more easily and more safely secured than
In the greater depths.
Finding 1t impossible to secure effee-
tive state legislation owing to the con-
flicting, at that time. interests OF Tarpon
Springs and Key West. and appeal was
made TO congress, which enacted a law
in 1906 prohibiting the landing In this
country after May 1. 1907, Of sponges taken
by means OF diving in less than fifty feet
Of water. while sponEes taken in a greater
depth had to be secured between october
1 and May 1. This law has been Of very
little benefit TO the native spongers. as
but weak and Intellectual efforts have been
made TO enforce It.
The people Of Key West have fought
against diving from the beginning and
have threatened to burn the first diving
vessel which comes there. Last year a
rumor spread that a diving vessel was
working on the key grounds In the upper
part Of Monroe county. An expedition
Va hostily got up. but when II swooped
down upon the suspicious vessel the lat
ter turned out to be a mackerel fisher
man from Mitmi Nelth.-l 'rUE' nor
the ale nS method are permitted in Mon
roe county. But as the best grounds
are in the Gulf OF Mexico. some distance
from Monroe county. this has not bene-
fitted the Key West fleet very much.
EarIy Friends Now Sorry.
Those reEldenst Of this town who ia
vored and helped in the Introduction
OF the Greek methods Of diving in its early
days soon had their eyes opened to the
effect OF the coming of the Greeks. 1t is
charged against the latter that they
spend as little money as possible. buying
only the bare necessaries Of life. while
eagerly bent upon exploiting to the ut
most the states valuable sponge bids:
that they give as little as possible in re-
turn for h they get, and that they
are ready to decamp as soon as these
resources are exhausted. II is probable
that the coming session of the legisla-
ture will witness the enactment of laws
directed against the Greeks.
In sponging the regular suit used by
divers the world over is employed. TIL
pump IL placed in an open boat, which
is towed along to the grounds by the
schooner on which the crew lives. Upor
arrival at the grounds the diving crew
goes aboard the diving boat, while the
captain, cook and cleaner remain aboard
the schooner and vancouver 1t so al
not to be far away at any time.
In the diving crew are two divers, on'
Of whom works during the morning, while
the other operates In the afternoon. wher
ready the diver is encased in his sui
and drops overheard by means OF a small
ladder on the side and is carried to thu
bottom By the weights hanging from hi
4 back and attached to his feet.
4 Upon arrival at the bottom he walk
/: around tearing loose from It's fastening
1 any sponge which strikes his fancy an,
!, placing II in a net bag attached to his waist
When he has a bagful or feels the nee
of resting he signals to the crew, VIII
pull him up and aboard the boat, wher
q he rests for a short while, When h
! goes down again.
n Owing TO the fact that they operate 4
y much shoaler water than in the Mediter
: ranean the mortality among the diver
n has been exceedingly slight. None ha
n fallen a victim TO that dreaded dfseas
! paralysis. This is caused by divers 60
Ing 10 deep that the men at the pump
n are unable to lump enough air to expap
the suit 80 that it can withstand the pres
n sure OF the water. Tho diving sui
n squeezes the legs and body, producing
: sort Of paralysis that is not always recoR
q nised by the diver until he reaches tn
n surface and is exposed to the air.
Divers battle Under Water.
There is keen rivalry as to which sha
secure the choice specimens. AS a resuI
fights between rival divers OCCASIONAL
occur At the bottom. In November, 100
n two divers fought for nearly al hour at
n depth of fifty-seven feet for the posses
2 sion of a very large sponge and inflicte
upon each other severe bruises with thei
sponge hooks before their comrades q
the surface discovered what was the mat
ter and separated them by pulling theI
incontentinently to the surface. where the
: were, Of course. helpless to harm eac
other.
The Greeks have introduced their ow
peculiar style of diving boat and man
OF these bear names which look odd to tn
observer. The names Agea Treas CHol
Trinity is very popular. while Katingo. s
George, st. Geo. Panagea. Elpis Lada
|, Athena, Evangelistra, Texarhis, Emhpn
and Kphth are fairly common. The Gree
lettering is sometimes employed.
In hooking. on the schooner's arrival
the grounds, the dingys are run overboar
4 and two men enter each. Only one MAJ
= the cook. is left aboard the vessel, and !
!. m%aneuvers It 30 as to be near the boat
s so that they may easily deliver on boar
y their catch.
spOnEe BED Pretty Picture.
n One man on each dlngy is called u
:, hooker. while the other is known as n
% sculler. The sculler is In the stern. when,
q he maneuvers 1t with a long oar. aecordlr
to the directions of the hooker, who Is |
In the bow. When the hooker is ready Il