PRODUCTS FROM THE SEA 357 



obtained those of the Mediterranean are of the best quality. 

 Some of the finest sponge beds in the world lie in Egyptian 

 territorial waters along the North African coast, stretching 

 west from Alexandria for a distance of 300 miles to Solium. 



There are three main species of sponges fished in the 

 Mediterranean, the Honey-comb, the Turkey-cup (Plate 

 125), and the Zimocca. Of these the Turkey-cup is the 

 softest in texture. There is also another sponge known 

 as the Elephant's-ear sponge, on account of its shape. 



The Florida sponges are on the whole of a coarser texture 

 than the Mediterranean sponges. There are several kinds 

 known as Sheep's wool, Yellow, Velvet, Grass and Glove 

 sponges. 



Most of the sponges are fished by divers who are most 

 skilled in the Mediterranean where the sponges on the 

 whole grow in deeper water. The sponges may be collected 

 either by men in diving dress — machine divers, or by naked 

 divers. The naked divers of the iEgean are unsurpassed 

 for their powers of endurance, and have spread from their 

 own islands to fish the north coast of Africa, the central 

 Mediterranean, and some even to the sponge beds in 

 Florida. They fish, in Egyptian waters, chiefly in depths 

 of 12 to 37 fathoms, while they have been known to go as 

 deep as 240 and 250 feet. They generally stay down for 

 about two minutes, though the more expert will remain 

 under water for four minutes. The diver plunges into the 

 water grasping in his hand a marble slab, thirty lbs. in 

 weight, which quickly takes him to the bottom. To a ring 

 on his arm is attached his life line. At^a given signal he is 

 hauled up by this as quickly as possible by two leather- 

 gloved men, leaving his marble slab to be pulled up 

 separately by another rope. 



The living sponge is black and slimy in appearance 

 owing to the living tissues which cover the skeleton. In 



