The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1912-04-21
SEN. FLETCHER
INTRODUCES
A GOOD BILL
SPONGE INDUSTRY OF THE GULF
COAST WILL BE PROTECTED
AND MATERIALLY BENEFITED.
Special to The journal

special NC SOuTHdt
Washington, April Ex-senator Dun
can L. Fletcher of Florida has just in
troduced in the senate and had re-
ferred to the committee on fisheries,
bill that will be of especial interest 70
all persons engaged in the sponge in
dustry in Florida.
This bill is intended to regulate the
taking or catching Of sponges in the
waters of the Gulf Of Mexico and the
Straits of Florida, the landing, deliver
ing curing, selling, or disposing of the
same, providing the means of enforce
ment of same, and for other purposes.
The bill is the result of a careful
study of the sponge situation by Sena-
tor Fletcher, and commenting on the
end he hopes to see brought about
through the enforcement of this Dill,
when it has become a law, he said:
Il have drawn this bill with an eye
single to preventing the wanton de-
struction of sponges, and at the same
time, to promote the general sponge
industry, as it affects all people con-
cerned in the business"
1t is believed that the bill will meet
with general approval from all who
are in a position to understand and
appreciate the industry. The provis-
ions of the bill are as follows:
A bill to regulate the taking or
catching of sponges in the waters of
the Gulf of Mexico and Straits of Flor
ida; the landing, delivering, curing,
selling, or disposing of the same; pro-
viding means of enforcement of same;
and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the senate and
house of representatives of the United
States of America in congress assem-
bled, That on and after the approval
of this act it shall be unlawful for any
citizen of the United States or person
owing duty of obedience to the laws of
the United States, or any boat or YES
sci of the United States or person be-
longing to or on board such boat or
vessel to take or catch any CONNER
cial sponges, by means of diving or
diving apparatus, in the waters of the
Gulf of Mexico or Straits of Florida, or
to land, deliver, cure, offer for sale, or
have in possession at any port or
place in the United States or on any
boat or vessel of the United States
any commercial spongeS taken oy
means of diving in said waters: Pro-
vided, That sponges taken by means
of diving apparatus between the first
day of October and the first day of
July following, of each year, in a depth
of water not less than forty feet nor
more than one hundred AMI fifty feet
shall not be subject to the provisions
of this section.
Sec. 2. That it shall be unlawful for
any and all persons, boats, or vessels
described in the first section of this
act to take or catch, by any means or
method, in the waters of the Gulf of
Mexico or the Straits of Florida, or to
land, deliver, cure, offer for sale, Or
have in possession at any port or place
in the United States or on any boat
or vessel of the United States, any
commercial sponges taken in said wa
tiers measuring, when wet, less than
five inches in their maximum diameter.
Sec. 3. That the presence of sponges
on any vessel or boat equipped with
diving apparatus. or serving as a liv-
ing or deposit boat for divers, between
July first and October first of each
year, or the presence of sponges OF a
diameter less than five inches on said
vessels at any time, or the presence of
| sponges of less than the said diameter
on any other vessel or boat engaged in
| sponging on the waters of the Gulf OF
| Mexico or the Straits of Florida be-
| yond the jurisdiction of the state of
| Florida, or the possession of any
| sponges of less than the said diameter
| sold or delivered by such vessels shall
| be prima facie evidence Of a violation
/ of this act
Sec. 4. That every person guilty of
! a violation of this act shall for ca oh
! offense be liable to a fine of not less
| than one hundred dollars nor more
than five hundred dollars, which fine
shall be a lien against the vessel on
| which the offense was committed. And
| every vessel used or employed in vio-
| lation this act shall be liable to a fine
| of not less than one hundred dollars
nor more than five hundred dollars, CT
forfeiture, and shall be seized and pro
! ceeded against by process of libel in
! any court having jurisdiction of The
! offense: Provided, That every person
or vessel guilty of a violation of sec
ton two of this act shall be liable &c
fine of fifty cents for each sponge OF
a less diameter than five inches found
| in the possession Of such person OF
| vessel.
Sec. 5. That any violation of this
act shall be prosecuted in the distric-
court Of the United States of the dis
trict wherein the offense was com
mitted.
Sec. 6. That it shall be the duty o.
| the secretary of commerce and labor II
enforce the provisions of this act, am
| upon his request the secretary of the