FISHERIES OF KEY WEST. 



55 



Table 7. — Relative import, nice of Key West and Tarpon Springs as sponge 



centers from 1888 to 1918. 



In 1919 the quantity of sponges sold at the Tarpon Springs ex- 

 change amounted to 424,075 pounds, valued at $707,964, and in 1920 

 the quantity sold was 409,746 pounds, valued at $678,209. The catch 

 at Key West for these years is not available, but it is probable that 

 it did not exceed 125,000 pounds for either year. 



In 1921 the quantity of sponges sold at the sponge exchange, Tar- 

 pon Springs, Fla., was 386,390 pounds, valued at $540,093, of which 

 173,723 pounds, valued at $463,170 were large wool; 63,786 pounds, 

 valued at $28,705, small wool; 70,218 pounds, valued at $30,428, 

 yellow; 65,745 pounds, valued at $12,623, grass; and 12,918 pounds, 

 valued at $5,167, wire. The prices of the small wool sponges were so 

 low in the latter part of 1920 that several thousand bunches were 

 held over for sale in 1921. For this reason the 1921 totals were larger 

 than for the preceding year. It is estimated that sponges amounting 

 in value to $40,000 were sold outside of the exchange at Tarpon 

 Springs. 6 



In 1922 the quantity of sponges sold at the sponge exchange, Tar- 

 pon Springs, Fla., was 526,885 pounds, valued at $699,092, of which 

 248,475 pounds, valued at $596,199 were large wool ; 70,478 pounds, 

 valued at $42,286, small wool; 115,455 pounds, valued at $37,637, 

 yellow ; 84,892 pounds, valued at $20,379, grass ; and 7,585 pounds, 

 valued at $2,588, wire. It is estimated that sponges to the value of 

 $50,000 were sold outside of the exchange at Tarpon Springs. 7 



The principal kinds of sponges brought into Key West, in the order 

 of their importance, are the sheepswool, yellow, and grass. These 

 are divided into numerous subvarieties and grades. Glove sponges, 

 although generally common throughout the Florida keys, have but 

 a small commercial value and are sold only in limited quantities. 

 Other kinds, such as velvet and wire sponges, are of minor importance 

 in the Key West market. 



" The sponging grounds as at present developed are broadly di- 

 vided into two widely separated areas — the ' bay grounds,' lying in 

 the open waters of the Gulf of Mexico from about Johns Pass to St. 

 Marks, and the ' key grounds,' stretching along and among the reefs 

 and keys from Cape Florida to Boca Grande Key." (Moore, 1908.) 

 Doctor Moore states further that "the grounds as exploited and 



8 Fishery Industries of the United States. Report of the Division of Fishery Indus- 

 tries for 1921. By Lewis Radcliffe. Appendix IX, Report, U. S. Commissioner of Fish- 

 eries for 1922 (1923), p. 70. B. F. Doc No. 932. 



7 Fishery Industries of the United .States. Report of the Division of Fishery Industries 

 for 1922. By Harden F. Taylor. Appendix V, Report, U. S. Commissioner of Fisheries 

 for 1923, p. 63. B. F. Doc, No. 954. 



