12 FISHERIES OF THE COASTAL WATERS OF FLORIDA. 



other, and the lower end was split. Three pieces of sponge were put on each peg 

 and pushed up high enough to be above the horizontal holes, through which a 

 wooden pen was pushed, thus fully securing the sponges. 



If the pieces of sponge are simply to be fastened with wooden pegs, a three- 

 cornered stiletto will suffice for making the holes in sponges; but when they are to be 

 strung upon pegs this or any similar instrument can not be used, because too great 

 a pressure would have to be exercised to make a sufficiently large opening for the 

 passage of the pegs. Any pressure will injure the sponges to some degree, and to 

 limit its extent or force as much as possible should be the first object. Mr. Buccich 

 bored the holes with a trepan 6 millimeters wide, fastened to a vertical turning 

 table, which was kept in rapid motion by a fly wheel. One hand pressed the sponge 

 lightly against the trepan, the other turned the wheel, and the operation was fin- 

 ished in a few seconds. The hole in this manner is perfectly smooth, none of the 

 fibers have been pulled out, and none of the sarcode has flowed out. As soon as a 

 peg has been furnished with sponge cuttings, its split end is stuck in one of the 

 holes of the apparatus and a wedge is driven through the crack. As lid and 

 bottom hold 24 pegs, each with 3 cuttings apiece, such an apparatus can hold 

 144 cuttiugs. During this whole process the sponges should be continually 

 moistened with sea water, especially during summer. As soon as an apparatus has 

 been filled it should immediately be let down into the water if the temperature is 

 high, while in winter a delay will not prove injurious. The letting down and rais- 

 ing of the apparatus had best be done by means of a small anchor, and it should be 

 let down to a depth of 5 to 7 meters. Mr. Buccich does not consider it necessary to 

 have the apparatus suspended from a sort of scaffolding. All the woodwork should 

 be well tarred, as this will prove the only, though by no means always efficient, 

 protection against worms. The Teredo does not only cause an increase in the capital 

 to be employed, because it makes new apparatus necessary from time to time, but 

 it also diminishes the results, because the pegs will gradually get loose and fall oft". 

 It would, therefore, be best to dispense with wood altogether, and either construct 

 the apparatus of stone, taking the necessary precautions against mud aud excess of 

 light, or construct Mr. Buccich's exceedingly practical apparatus of iron. 



If, after three or four weeks, the sponges have grown firmly to their base, they 

 are sure to develop successfully. Their most characteristic tendency is the desire 

 to grow round. In order to facilitate this in all directions, Mr. Buccich strung the 

 sponges on pegs. As regards the development of the sponge cuttings within certain 

 given periods, we have only very imperfect information, as it was impossible to 

 make continued undisturbed observations. Mr. Buccich says that the cuttings 

 grow two or three times their original size during the first year. He also mentions 

 that the cuttiugs grew better during the first and fourth year than during the 

 second and third. It is his opinion that, although some pieces Avill grow to a con- 

 siderable size in five years, it will require seven years to raise completely matured 

 sponges which arc fit to become an article of merchandise. I can not pass by the 

 fact that besides well-developed and growing sponges there were some which 

 outwardly looked perfectly healthy, but had ceased growing. 



In conclusion, Mr. Buccich discusses the question whether the enterprise can, on 

 the whole, be called profitable, and says that he must answer it in the affirmative. 

 He thinks that if all the lessons taught by experience are carefully observed, the 

 cuttings will always develop successfully, and that the loss would at most be 10 per 

 cent, taking into account unexpected accidents and the stationary character of some 

 of the sponges. Calculating the expense of an establishment for 5,000 sponges at 

 300 florins and the loss at 10 per cent, the price realized by 4,500 sponges would indi- 

 cate the profits. Mr. Buccich calculates the value of 4,500 sponges at 900 florins. 

 Tins sum is, in my opinion, much too high, as the wholesale sponge-dealers in Trieste 

 receive an average price of 8 and a maximum price of 10 florins per kilogram of 

 Dalmatian sponges. 



