Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-03-25
~ FREDERIC !. HASKIN.

TAKPoS SPRINGS. FLA. March "a
THIS city claims the distinction OF be.
/ ing the largest sponge market in the
( Western Hemisphere. Over "a hun
| area scho"ncrs With their diving boats
san rom its little river harbor 70 the
sponge beds in the sulf and a local
colony OF 1000 Greeks are engaged al
most wholly In the sponge business
lh"N have imported their native
me- unchanged. even employing
me same picturesque boats with high
prows and brilliant colors that arc
used In the Mediterranean
Tn" Creeks havc an absolute lnonor-
oi% on tho business OF diving for
Sp"hSes they 20 down into 100 feet
! OF "aier ia rubber suits and helmets
, cat the spongcs from the bottom with
Nn'fe and bring them to tho surface
IN nets Now and again man gets
( his rubber lines tangled and his air
supply IS cut or, or ne remains below
too Ions and becomes paralyzed. Some
times big man-eatnE shark becomes
, nnduly curious. aud makes "a mcnac-
lnS swoop ut he diver His usual de-
;ense in such case is TO omen nj.
sleeve and lot out . rush Of air bubbles
which almost invariably fr!Sh,ens the
shark away.
~ any rate. these under-sea adven-
lures do not appeal 10 tho Americans
ihrN arc wiling TO take risk FOR
SUFFICIENT cause but not for a duyer's
wages. so The Creeks have no cornpeti-
ton IN that part Of the business BE-
fore they came 10 Florida sponges were
taken only b" negroes who went out in
row boats and hooked" spomEes in
comparatively shallow water with long
poles. u was a primitive and incf-
fcctual method. and all Florida did no,
produc" fraction q! what is now OK
ported annually from Tarpon Springs
alone
Greeks Developed the Industry.
Tho Greeks saw their oppor,unitv.
and Wont first 10 aeo,hcr Florida town
farther South. where they invested
$4,000 IN schooner and began diving
for sponscs with ercat success. The
loca! people held mass-mcc,lnr. dc
cldcd they did not want any "furri-
rcrs.' ran tho Greeks out OF town. and
burned up their boat The Greeks then
won't 10 Tarpon Springs, where they
received very different reception.
Tho people realized that Greeks could
develop tho sponge irdustr" 10 the great
benefit Of the town. 80 they purchas
Cd boats and equipment for these men
from the Mcditcrrancau. and set them
TO work. Both the Greek colony and
tho sponge business grew apacc. The
Greek. noN own their boats. and about
half ~ the local Arms dealing In
spougcs ere owned ny Greeks. They
also conduct all OF tho icc-crcam par
lors barber shops, and pool rooms in
'rarpon Springs. They form nearly
half Of the population, and have just
about u fair share OF the business.
Although the Greeks dwell in their
own quarter OF the town. and preserve
their national customs, they live in
perfcct amity with the Americans.
There arc very prosperous firms in the
sponEc business which arc conducted
by Greeks and Americans working In
partnership.
The Greek likes American business
methods. American money. American
movies and many othcr american
things but when IL comes Ia cheese.
vine and candy, lie insists on having
his own Hence there are in Tarpon
Springs many picturesque little SHOPS
dealing IN these things. and in otnor
strictly creek dainties, which arc be
yord lhc appreciarion OF an American
paIato There are also Greek coffee
houses where YOU may sec the divers
| in from the Gulf slipping the drink
from little cups and :mokinG water
pipes
Lively Times During Sales.
AS spongas become scarcer, the hc"ts
have To 90 farther and farther out INTO
the Gulf 10 get Il good harvest. Ihcy
now usually remain from TWO or lhrce
months at Il time. returning al 70
Sethcr AT certain times or the YEAR
when the great sales are hcid. early
fall, Christmas and Easter are tue
times OF the most important sales. and
upon these occasions Tarpon Springs
becomes one OF the livelicst little towns
upop the globe The Greek diver is
daring, happy so-lucky chap. who
makes biz: wages and does not believe
In saving them. When he hits town
he usually collects several hundred
dollars. and proceeds zealously to
spend II all before going to sea again.
of wineshops and coffee houses and
movies lie decks himself in the
gaudiest and most expensive clothes
| that money will buy. lie rather over
runs the town: but seldom does any
harm either to himself or any one else.
Easter is the most important occa
| sion OF all. being great Greek holt
| day. There is much feastinG. and can
| die light professions through the
| streets at night. Al the time OF the
| christmas sale, the Greek Cross Day is
! celebrated The whole country gath
crs at the bayou behind the town. The
Young men, all expert swimmers. line
up on the bank, clad only in trunks.
| The priest throws wooden cross into
! the water, and there is IL r; ce for 1t.
| the hoy who wins receiving a prize.
| When the Sponges are brought up
| by the divers, they bear no resemblance
| whatever TO what YOU buy in u drug
| store; for the commercial sponge is
merely the skeleton OF an animal. In
| the natural state IL is covered with
| thick mucus. This lis pounded and
| washed out, the roots arc cut OFF with
| sheep shears, the sponScs are sorted
| according To variety. and strung in
punches of ten TO thirty each. There