The Sponge Fishery of the Bahamas. 177 



business will have to withdraw, as even now it hardly com- 

 pensates them for their labour. 



The rapid strides made in sponging within the Bahamas 

 group appears almost incredible. It only commenced in 

 1841. The early stages of the trade a quarter of a cen- 

 tury ago, and its progress since, are shown in the following 

 statistics : 



VALUE OF THE EXPORTS FROM THE BAHAMAS. 



Cwts. Value. 



1849 ... ^2,217 



1850 ... ... ... ... 5,700 



1851 ... ... ... ... I4,OOO 



1852 ...... ...... 11,257 



1855 ... 2399 ... 9,615 



1856 ... ... I800 ... ... 6,723 



1857 ... ... 2657 ... ... 11,025 



1858 3357 17,254 

 1866 ... ... 8630 ... ... 40,000 



1869 ... ... 3887 ... ... 28,000 



1870 ... ... 2836 



1871 ... ... ... 14,868 



1873 5000 ... 32,938 



1874 2472 ... 15,551 



1875 



About half the quantity collected is shipped to the United 

 States, and half to England. 



Before sponges pass into commerce they are trampled 

 on, pressed, washed a great many times in salt and fresh 

 water frequently changed, until the gelatinous mucus with 

 which they are covered has disappeared. They are then 

 passed through boiling water, with the view of ridding them, 

 if possible, of the peculiar smell arising from the animal 

 matter attached to the fibrous tissues. 



To bleach sponges, they are steeped in a dilute solution 

 of sulphuric acid of I to ro3 degrees, and they are left to 

 steep five or six days, taking care to press them from time to 



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