822 HISTORY AND METHODS OP THE FISHERIES. 



has more or less the same breadth which is about 13 or 14 miles. The second sponge-ground 

 begins just south of Auclote Keys, with a breadth of 7 or 8 miles but rapidly broadens out toward 

 the north to a width of 15 miles, which it maintains from a point about opposite Bay Fort to Sea 

 Horse Reef, just south of Cedar Keys. The tolal length of this sponging- ground is about 60 geo- 

 graphical miles; its distance from the shore varies somewhat; at the south the inner edge 

 approaches within 4 or 5 miles of the main laud, and conies close upon Anclote Keys; but through- 

 out the remainder of its extent it is distant 6 to 8 miles from the shore, until it touches the 

 shallow bottom and reefs of Cedar Keys. The depth of water on these grounds, as indicated on the 

 Coast Survey charts, ranges from 3 to G fathoms, but many portions are undoubtedly shallower 

 than this. The northern ground, which maintains a nearly uniform width throughout, is about 70 

 miles long by about 15 miles broad. It approaches to within about 5 miles of the shore, and termi- 

 nates just off the mouth of Saint Mark's River; the depth of the water is the same as upon the 

 next one to the south, from 3 to 6 fathoms. 



The total area of the Florida spongiug-grouuds, which are now being worked, including also 

 those that were formerly fished upon but have since been more or less abandoned, may be roughly 

 stated at about 3,000 square geographical miles. This probably does not include all of the sponge- 

 grounds occurring in Florida waters, for the fact that new areas are being constantly discovered 

 would indicate that there might still be more to find, and it is certain that no very strenuous 

 efforts have yet been made to extend the grounds already known, the discovery of new ones hav- 

 ing generally been made by accident. 



3. THE SPONGING VESSELS AND THEIR OUTFITS. 



GENERAL ACCOUNT. The sponge fishery of the Florida coast differs greatly from that of the 

 Mediterranean, in that sponges are not obtained by divers, but by means of hooks fastened at the 

 end of a long pole and managed from a small boat. In the former region, small vessels of from 

 5 to 50 tons measurement are employed to visit the grounds, to afford quarters for the men, and 

 to bring home the catch. These vessels are mostly of light draught and schooner rigged, having 

 proportionately large decks on which to carry boats, working gear, and the sponges as they are 

 taken. The, holds are of considerable size for storing dried sponges, and the cabins generally small, 

 indicating a sacrifice of comfort to working room. Each vessel carries, according to its size, from 

 five to fifteen men, one as cook and the remainder (always an even number) as fishermen, and also 

 a small yawl-boat to every two fishermen to be used by them in securing the sponges. In addi- 

 tion to the implements for taking sponges, they are provided with a sufficient quantity of provis- 

 ions, wood and water for the trip, lasting from four to eight weeks. 



The working outfit of a Florida sponging vessel consists simply of a few small yawl-boats 

 called dingies, and a supply of sponge-hooks and sponge-glasses. Many of the dingies are built 

 by the fishermen themselves; they are from 12 to 15 feet long, and 4 to 5 feet wide, and are built 

 of the lightest and strongest material obtainable, the frame of mulberry or white oak, and the 

 planking of juniper or southern white cedar. The idea is to have the boats light enough to enable 

 two men to haul them in and out over the side of a vessel, and yet strong enough to withstand 

 the rough handling to which they are subjected, and to sately carry the rather heavy load result- 

 ing from a half day's catch. While gathering sponges it is necessary to scull the dingy from the 

 stern, and, for convenience in so doing, the following form of sculling-notch has been introduced: 

 A piece of oak plank about G inches wide and a foot long is notched at one end to fit an oar, 

 and inserted at the other between two guiding strips securely fastened to the stern sheet. This 



