4 FISHERIES OF THE COASTAL WATERS OF FLORIDA. 



COMMERCIAL SPONGES OF FLORIDA. 

 SPONGE-GROUNDS. 



The Florida sponge-grounds are in three principal localities : Vicinity 

 of Bock Island, Anclote Key, and the Florida Keys. 



The Rock Island grounds extend along the coast from Cedar Keys to 

 Apalachee Bay, a distance of about 90 miles, and sponges are found in 

 greater or less abundance over the entire region. The best grounds are 

 said to lie off Biney Boint between latitude 29° 40' and 29° 50', or just 

 above Deadman Bay at the mouth of the Steinhatchee Biver. Other 

 good grounds are in Ocilla Bay off the mouth of the Ocilla Biver, and 

 above the mouth of the Suwanee Biver at a place called Bepperfish 

 Key. Sponges are reported to be abundant in Suwanee Bay, but the 

 water is seldom clear enough to permit their being seen. 



The Anclote grounds extend from the vicinity of Johns Bass, just 

 below Clearwater Harbor, to Cedar Keys. The best ground at present 

 is St. Martin Beef, lying off Homosassa and Crystal Biver, between 

 latitude 28° 40' and 28° 50'. The center of this ground is crossed by 

 the 83d meridian. Southwest of St. Martin Beef is what is known as 

 the "New Ground," where excellent sponges are obtained in 42 to 45 

 feet of water. Another center of abundance is said to lie off Bayport. 

 Nearly the entire region between Johns Bass and Cedar Keys, how- 

 ever, is regarded as good sponging- ground if not too closely tished. 

 That portion off the Anclote Keys would be particularly productive if 

 allowed to recuperate. It is believed by many that sponges are abun- 

 dant off Egmont Key at the mouth of Tampa Bay, but the water is 

 rarely clear enough to permit the grounds to be worked. South of 

 Tampa Bay commercial sponges do not occur in sufficient numbers to 

 justify the working of this coast until after passing Cape Sable. 



The Florida Keys grounds extend from Key West eastward and 

 northeastward at least as far as Cape Florida. On these grounds the 

 sponges are found in the shallow water among the keys and along the 

 reefs in all suitable places. 



Good grounds are about the Matecumbe Keys, Stirrup Key, Bahia 

 Honda, and Horseshoe Cove. The greater part of Biscayne Bay is an 

 excellent sponging- ground. 



SPECIES. 



The commercial sponges of Florida are regarded as belonging to five 

 different species. They all belong to the genus iSponyia, and, named 

 in the order of their importance, are as follows: 



1. The Sheepswool Sponge, Spongia equina (]los8iu>ina. 



2. The Yellow Sponge, Spongia agaricina. 



3. The Grass Sponge, Spongia graminea. 



4. The Velvet Sponge, Spongia equina meandriniformis. 



5. The Glove Sponge, Spongia officinalis tubulifera. 



Several varieties of these sponges have been described and numerous 

 grades of each are recognized by the dealers. 



