158 The Commercial Products of the Sea. 



i 



other. Australia affords a few forms ; and some species 

 are said to be found on the Atlantic coast of Brazil. 

 Bermuda also has a few of the commercial kinds, which, 

 according to Mr. Goode's report and his suite of specimens, 

 are much coarser than the Key West, darker in colour, 

 and, in fact, just about intermediate between these and 

 those of Australia. They are occasionally found in the 

 shops, but, as a rule, are used only by the fishermen 

 themselves about their boats, the Bahamas sponges being 

 preferred for domestic purposes by the inhabitants. It 

 appears that the finest forms grow only in the protected 

 lagoons, at depths varying from 5 to 25 feet, on a sandy 

 bottom. The temperature is not stated. They are cured 

 in a very careless manner by exposure to the weather, 

 a process which doubtless does not increase their value. 

 The true Spongice are all shallow-water forms. In the 

 Mediterranean, according to Von Eckhel, they are not found 

 below 30 fathoms, and in American seas about the same 

 probably, though not fished to greater depths than five 

 fathoms. The fishery is principally carried on in the 

 West Indies by the aid of a sort of hooked fork, two 

 shepherd's-crook-like hooks on a long pole. The fisher- 

 men cannot so successfully work at considerable depths 

 with this instrument, as by diving, or with the diving 

 apparatus or armour, and various forms of drags, etc., 

 employed in the Mediterranean. The greater part of the 

 fishery is accomplished between the depth of 3 and 20 feet, 

 according to the report of Dr. Palmer, from which these 

 remarks are principally derived. The finest qualities of 

 American sponges are obtained in the Bahamas, the prin- 

 cipal depot being at Nassau. 



The process of preparation is not so careful as in 

 Europe, probably owing to the greater coarseness and 



