40 FISHERIES OF THE COASTAL WATERS OF FLORIDA. 



are locked by means of the loop and peg and the tongs lowered to the 

 bottom. By suddenly dropping the tongs from the height of a few feet 

 from the bottom the loop slips off the pin by virtue of the weight 

 referred to, and the teeth will theu approach each other when the ropes 

 are hauled taut. The weight and the loop and peg may however, if 

 desired, be dispensed with by attaching a line to the crossing point of 

 the two arms and placing weights at the upper ends of the latter, the 

 tongs being lowered by means of the middle line and kept open by the 

 weights mentioned. 



The great simplicity of this apparatus is an argument in favor of its 

 use in the oyster fishery and suggests its employment in the sponge 

 fishery. It is open to the objection of being somewhat heavier than the 

 ordinary oyster tongs and in deep water requires the use of a small 

 windlass attached to the mast or elsewhere on the boat, by means of 

 which it can be raised and lowered. The cost complete is about $15. 

 If the principle embodied in this apparatus is found to be adapted to 

 the sponge fishery, a modification in the line of lightness and cheap- 

 ness could doubtless be made. The number of teeth and the carrying 

 capacity of the tongs required in the oyster fishery might be reduced 

 and the apparatus made to consist practically of two opposing hooks, 

 such as are now used in the sponge fishery. 



The sponge-grounds and their condition. — The principal grounds re- 

 sorted to by the larger sponge vessels are known as the " bay grounds," 

 and are located off the west coast of Florida, between Anclote Keys 

 and Apalachee Bay. The region around Auclote Keys is known as the 

 "Anclote grounds," north of which are the " Bock Island grounds.' 

 The small vessels usually frequent the waters around the keys, between 

 Key West and Cape Florida. 



The chief feature regarding the sponge-grounds to be noted at this 

 time is the continued extension of operations into deeper water conse- 

 quent on the depletion of the more shallow grounds. In the vicinity of 

 Anclote Keys the grounds in 10 to 12 feet of water were exhausted 

 before the civil war, but during the war the sponge beds had a chance 

 to recuperate and later afforded some good fishing. They were very 

 soon depleted, however, and have not since borne sponges in any note- 

 worthy quantities. This is the general history of the "bay grounds." 

 Deeper and deeper bottom has to be resorted to in order to make the 

 fishery profitable, until now some fishing is done in water as deep as 15 

 feet, which seems to be about the maximum depth in which it will be 

 possible to employ the present methods. The usual depth at which 

 sheeps wool sponges are now taken is about 30 feet. 



Occasionally good fares are taken on the inshore and key grounds. 

 The latter, in depths of 10 to 20 feet, seem to recuperate more rapidly 

 than the bay grounds and produce excellent crops some seasons, but 

 they have in general shown the same depletion as the other grounds, 

 and the spongers have to work over a larger area and more assiduously 

 than was necessary a few years ago. 



