THE ALUMNI JOURNAL 117 



SPONGE FINDING. 



There are two places where sponge fishing can l)e studied — 

 Tarpon Springs, on the west coast of Florida, and Batabano, on 

 the south coast of Cuba. In Florida the luisiness is conducted 

 with all the ceremony and science wdiich the money of a New York 

 corporation can control. In Cuba, on the contrary, it is pursued 

 with all the primitiveness and leisure associated with sponge fish- 

 ing since classic times. 



In Florida the fishing is mostly done by professional divers. 

 Greeks who have migrated from the Old World to the New to 

 follow their calling. In the Greek quarter at Tarpon you may see 

 Greek houses. Greek costumes, and hear the Greek language. 

 Even the boats from which the divers work, boats of immense 

 strength. 40 feet l)y 10 feet, are brought from Greece. 



The divers in the Ciulf wear diving suits of the most modern 

 and perfect make. The dress is heavily weighed with lead and 

 leaden shoes are worn. The men carry only a large sponge bag. 



The sponges are found at about a hundred feet, and the diver 

 walks along, gathering them as he goes. 



The boat follows him on the surface, pumping fresh air to him 

 and hauling up the full and lowering the empty bags. The diver 

 often remains down for two or three hours, continually walking 

 and gathering. The diving suits are so perfect and the water so 

 clear there is little risk except from sharks. These monsters in- 

 fest the Gulf waters and many are the thrilling encounters the 

 divers report. 



The divers carry no weapons and a knife would be worse than 

 useless. If one shark was driven oiT or even killed the first trace 

 of blood would bring a dozen more circling around. The suits are 

 so heavy it is impossible to move away. The only course when a 

 man-eater appears on the scene is to remain absolutely still, for 

 the shark will not touch anything it thinks dead. This is a coun- 

 sel of perfection, for it requires more than ordinary nerve to remain 

 motionless with a man-eater nosing around. 



At Batabano the Cuban fishermen still employ the old sky-glass 

 and rake methods which were in vogue in Florida before the latest 

 commercializing methods revoluntionized the industry. The Cuban 

 goes out in a small chalupa, a cross between a river boat and a 

 canoe, carrying his professional instruments. These latter drop a 

 pole 20 to 50 feet long fitted at the end with a three-pronged rake, 

 and a large bucket from which the bottom has been knocked out 

 and substituted by a piece of ordinary window glass. By means 



