Sponge Fisheries of the Mediterranean. 185 



but by piece ; for the sake of comparison, however, their 

 prices are proportioned to others. Bengazi fine sponges are 

 exceedingly scarce. 



The prices quoted in the foregoing, although higher 

 than those of the two preceding years, are still rather 

 low, and Hellenic sponge boats, which used to bring and 

 sell their crops in the markets of the Sporades, now 

 abstain from doing so. In fact, owing to the reduced prices 

 offered in these islands for sponges, several of the most 

 enterprising native sponge-dealers decided, a few years ago, 

 instead of selling their sponges in the local market, to con- 

 vey them to Europe, and retail them on their own account 

 from place to place. There is not a single country even 

 .Sweden and Norway which these sponge-dealers have not 

 visited, in order to sell their goods. A few of them jour- 

 neyed even as far as America ; while some settled in London, 

 where their countrymen ultimately bought the quantities 

 which they had not been able to dispose of in their peregri- 

 nations. These attempts have been so far successful. It is 

 stated that the value of sponges sent annually to Great 

 Britain is no less than ^"70,000. 



The principal article of export from the Ottoman 

 Archipelago is sponge. The number of boats employed 

 varies, ranging from 400 to 600 in the year. The latter 

 number may be said to be thus distributed, as belonging to 

 the different islands : 



Calmynos .. ... ... ... 254 



Symi... ... ... .. ... 190 



Halki ... ... ... ... 65 



Castel Rosso ... ... ... .. 40 



Leros ... ... .. ... 30 



Stampalia ... ... ... ... 12 



Telos ... ... ... .. 7 



Cassos ... ... ... .. 2 



600 



