FISHERIES OF THE COASTAL WATERS OF FLORIDA. 41 



Even the deepest grounds now frequented are showing- the effects 

 of overfishing, and would doubtless soon prove nonproductive of mar- 

 ketable sponges if the weather and water were always favorable to the 

 spongers, the preservation of the beds depending on the prevalence of 

 storms or muddy water during some seasons or parts of seasons. 



The most valuable of the Florida sponges— the sheepswool — has natu- 

 rally had its abundance on the bay and key grounds most markedly 

 affected by unrestricted fishing, but all of the other species of market- 

 able sponges have also been gathered beyond the recuperative powers 

 of the grounds. The valuable velvet sponge, which is obtained on the 

 Florida reef, has become comparatively scarce. The yellow sponge, 

 which is taken in considerable quantity on the Kock Island grounds, but 

 is of best quality on the key grounds, is decreasing like the sheeps wool. 

 Even the cheap grass and glove sponges, which come principally from 

 the keys, are not so abundant as formerly. 



Good sheepswool grounds are reported to exist between Key West 

 and Cape Romano. The sponges are said to be abundant and (if very 

 good quality. This region is not extensively fished on, however, as the 

 water is usually muddy, and it is only one year in five that the water is 

 clear enough to permit of fishing. 



Condition and extent of the fishery. — The Key West sponge fishery 

 during the year 189") presented about the average condition in recent 

 years. The excessive fishing on the beds of the best grades of sponges 

 has necessitated the seeking of the deeper grounds, where the addi- 

 tional labor required, supplemented by rather unfavorable weather, 

 has resulted in a somewhat short cateh. 



During the winter season of 1895-96 the prevalence of bad weather 

 at sea for several months compelled spongers to work on the inshore 

 grounds, where sponges are chiefly small. The result was that the 

 cargoes contained a large proportion of sponges of a proscribed size — 

 less than 4 inches across the top — and this led the State authorities to 

 warn the fishermen against further violation of the law. The short crop, 

 combined with the active demand for sponges on the part of imrchasing 

 agents of New York firms, raised the price of sponges to a very high 

 figure, notwithstanding the small size of a great many of the sponges. 



The hurricane of September 29, 189(>, did considerable injury to the 

 sponge fishery. A number of sponge vessels engaged in the bay 

 fishery were lost, with their crews; some were driven a number of miles 

 into the woods, and others were sunk and otherwise damaged while at 

 anchor. A Key West sponge dealer, writing under date of October 

 10, 1896, to the Oil, Paint, and Drug Reporter, of New York, made the 

 following references to the effects of the storm and the outlook for the 

 fishery during the winter of 1896-97: 



During the past fortnight events that are bound to leave their mark in the history 

 of the Florida sponge fishery have happened. You have learned of the hurricane 

 that struck the west coast of Florida, during which the damages to the sponge fleet 

 have been very great. Several of the vessels have been thrown into the woods in the 



