SPONGES FROM COASTAL BEACHES OF N. S. WALES "WHITELEGGE 59 



Nassau fishermen say that the young sponges reach marketable 

 size in three months after attachment. Mr. E. Lamiral" states 

 that exhausted fisheries are regenerated in three years. 



From the foregoing authorities it is evident that the rate of 

 growth is subject to great variation, and no doubt this is 

 due to local conditions, such as temperature, food supply, and 

 the situation in which the cuttings were planted. 



Mr. E. J. Allen, in a supplement to his paper already quoted, '^ 

 published a letter, giving the results of Mr. R. M. Monroe's ex- 

 periments in sponge culture. This is a very excellent report, and 

 is worth reprinting, as it contains a full account of the methods 

 adopted, and the results obtained. 



Mr. Monroe, in his letter to the United States Fish and Fisheries 

 Commissioners, states that he commenced work in November, 1889, 

 "at Biscayne Bay, a place admirably adapted to such experimenting, 

 far more so than any other place on the coast, having a greater range 

 of bottom from the oozy marls of the inner lagoons to the hard 

 coral reef, waters of all degrees of density, from the Gulf Stream 

 to fresh, and currents to suit. Being already well provided with 

 a vessel, boats, sponge-hooks, and water glasses, the question of 

 suitable material for attaching to and sinking the cuttings to the 

 bottom, gave some trouble, although apparently a simple problem. 

 Saplings of white wood, which were plentiful, fairly proof against 

 worms, and heavy enough to retain their place in tide- ways, were 

 finally chosen. They were about twelve feet in length, with a 

 cross-piece at one end to prevent rolling over. The cuttings were 

 fastened to them by various contrivances, wedged into holes with 

 pegs, wires around the pole, etc.; but the quickest, if possibly not 

 the best, as it afterwards turned out, was short pieces of brass- 

 wire, doubled and driven into the pole with a peculiar grooved 

 punch, which could be done rapidly. At other stages of the 

 experiment, I used bamboo stakes, long double lines of twisted 

 wire, connected by cross pieces of white wood, with the cuttings 

 inserted between the strands, also flat pieces of coral rock with 

 drilled holes and wooden wedges. Galvanized iron in any form 

 did not answer, especially wire, as it quickly corroded. Most of 

 the first plantings were lost by its use ; and I am inclined to con- 

 demn brass-wire on account of the possible poisonous efi:ects of the 

 salts formed on it, although some of the best results were obtained 

 when it was used. Having prepared the sinkers, and hooked 

 up sufficient sponge for several days' work, placing them in nets 

 hung from the side of the schooner, the process was as follows : — 

 Taking the poles or other sinker material in a small boat, two kedge 

 anchors, a small long line, and the sponge in buckets in which the 



7 Lamiral— Bull. Soc. d'Accliiu., viii., 1861 - 1863, p. 329. 



8 Allen — Journ. Mar. Biol. Assoc. United Kingdom, iv., (n.s.), 1896, 

 p. 289. 



