THE SPONGE FISHEKY. 823 



sculling- notch is placed at one side of the center of the steru sheet and is made to be easily 

 removable in order that it may be taken out of the way when not needed. 



The sponge-hooks are made of iron, with three curved prongs, measuring' in total width about 

 ."i in- (i inches. The entire length of a hook is about 8 inches, the upper end being made into a strong 

 socket for the insertion of a pole. 



The sponge glass as originally constructed consisted of a small, square, wooden box having a 

 glass bottom. More recently, however, this form has given way to an ordinary wooden water- 

 bucket, the wooden bottom of which is replaced by one of plain window glass fastened in by means 

 of putty; the inside of the bucket is painted a dark color. In using a sponge-glass, it is placed 

 upright on the surface of the water and the head is thrust down into it is far as convenient. In this 

 way very small objects can be distinctly made out on the bottom even at a considerable depth. It 

 is customary to leave the handle or bail on the bucket, and allow it to pass around the neck when 

 in use, so that when a sponge is discovered the sponger is not delayed in grasping his hook and 

 bringing it into play. 



THE KEY WEST FLEET. The spouging-vessels of Key West are the pride of that place and 

 with good reason, as they are trim and fast sailers. They rank next after the fishing-smacks in 

 size, ranging in measurement from 5 to 45 tons, and are nearly all schooner rigged. Many of them 

 were built or rebuilt at Key West or in that vicinity, and like the smacks are strongly put together. 

 The frames are made of Madeira wood, red cedar, and dogwood, and the planking of yellow pine 

 or cypress. Before being painted, every outside seam and crack in the hull is filled with beeswax 

 to render it tight and form a smooth surface. . The masts, sails, rigging, and iron work are all of, 

 the best quality and all neatly fitted. In shape they are rather wide for schooners, but being shal- 

 low and loaded with canvas, work well under sail. The mainsail and jib are of the ordinary shape, 

 but the foresail is generally a "lug" sail, that is having no boom, and so wide as to extend aft beyond 

 the mainmast. Otherwise it is similar to the foresail ordinarily used on schooners. 



These vessels are all of light draught and provided with center- boards. The hold, from the 

 after end of the center-board to the bow, is entirely clear and unobstructed to afford ample space 

 for the storage of sponges, boats, and hooks. The cabin, extending from the bulkhead at the 

 after end of the center-board to the steru, is generally a small affair with but few conveniences, 

 and is composed almost entirely of sleeping compartments for the large crews that live on 

 board. The trunk of the cabin is therefore very small in proportion to the size of the deck, 

 the hatches being also small as well as the bitts and windlass gear forward. Cooking is done on 

 deck, on a stove that is boxed up and kept between the masts. When ready to start for the 

 sponge reefs, there is but little empty space anywhere on board; the decks are crowded with boats 

 and men, and with piles of spare ropes, anchors, sponge poles, water glasses, &c., while below is 

 stored a large quantity of wood, water, and provisions. The sponging-vessels of Key West are 

 quite as expensive to build as the fishing-smacks, and according to the statements of several 

 builders and owners cost on an average about $3,000 complete, for a vessel of 15 tons. 



The Key ^Yest spongiug-fleet consisted in 1879 of 80 vessels, all but five of which were schooner 

 rigged, the balance being sloops. The combined measurement of this fleet, with the exception of 

 four vessels the tonnage of which was not ascertained, was l,105i tons. The tonnage of each ves- 

 sel ranged from about 5 to 45 tons. Two vessels were under 5 tons; thirty-six between 5 and 10 

 tons; thirty-five between 10 and 20 tons; three between 20 and 30 tons; two between 30 and 40 

 tons; and four between 40 and 45 tons. The total value of the vessels of the fleet was $151,350. 

 The crews numbered most commonly either five, seven, nine, or eleven men each ; the total number 

 of men in the combined crews of the entire fleet was seven hundred and forty-four. The majority 



